Kuro Dmon
2023-10-15, 06:04 PM
Having a conversation with a friend about this, and trying to come up with ideas. They insist that the only way to deal with the Messiah of another/enemy deity is Assassination, reasoning that the figure is too persuasive to discredit, too wise to be tricked regarding allegiances, and would rapidly unseat your power if left unchecked.
I feel like that's boring, that the only folk who would be sent after a Messianic figure would be to *just* kill them. And I also feel like there are plenty of other options an opposing religion might take to attempt to deal with such a figure. I also question how easily it would be to make such a figure die in a way that doesn't martyr them, or trying to make it look like an accident.
In regards to reasons why, I've thought of a few myself. Attempting to find ways to make this figure "fall from grace" might not be impossible... I've certainly seen plenty of forum-ers who've had or heard debates about how stalwart a Paladin can stay in the face or persecution and challenge. :smallwink: But I'd also imagine wanting to find a way to use this person in a way that doesn't force either party's hand, at least until ways to truly remove them as a problem are found. Dismissing "working towards the same goals of unity and peace" too rashly seems like a waste to me...
And in regards to methods, I swear I thought there we spells that, while not outright lethal, would still incapacitate someone far greater than merely killing them. I swear I thought there was at least one spell that outright attempts to strip someone else of their connection to their religion/magic, find ways to control them in order to puppet them, or at least try to contain their soul in a way that doesn't send them to an opposing deity whom has already brought them back once before.
Anyone have any other food for thought for how and why to kill a young rising cleric at the bare end of their teens before they become a problem? I don't usually do evil, but I find myself contemplating the dark side of the alignment pool for options of practicality. A rare literal "Devil's Advocate" moment, if you will.
I feel like that's boring, that the only folk who would be sent after a Messianic figure would be to *just* kill them. And I also feel like there are plenty of other options an opposing religion might take to attempt to deal with such a figure. I also question how easily it would be to make such a figure die in a way that doesn't martyr them, or trying to make it look like an accident.
In regards to reasons why, I've thought of a few myself. Attempting to find ways to make this figure "fall from grace" might not be impossible... I've certainly seen plenty of forum-ers who've had or heard debates about how stalwart a Paladin can stay in the face or persecution and challenge. :smallwink: But I'd also imagine wanting to find a way to use this person in a way that doesn't force either party's hand, at least until ways to truly remove them as a problem are found. Dismissing "working towards the same goals of unity and peace" too rashly seems like a waste to me...
And in regards to methods, I swear I thought there we spells that, while not outright lethal, would still incapacitate someone far greater than merely killing them. I swear I thought there was at least one spell that outright attempts to strip someone else of their connection to their religion/magic, find ways to control them in order to puppet them, or at least try to contain their soul in a way that doesn't send them to an opposing deity whom has already brought them back once before.
Anyone have any other food for thought for how and why to kill a young rising cleric at the bare end of their teens before they become a problem? I don't usually do evil, but I find myself contemplating the dark side of the alignment pool for options of practicality. A rare literal "Devil's Advocate" moment, if you will.