Leliel
2008-01-27, 08:03 PM
For the first campagin I plan to run in 4th edition, I want to run a "transition" game that explains the changes in the cosmology. Beginning in the currently standard Great Wheel, this will explain how the Astral Sea, the Elemental Chaos, and the evil angels came about. The PCs will know this.
What they don't know is, the method it will come about is not at all a nice way.
You see, the plot of the campagin is an "upgraded" (still with the same characters and lay out, but with a few twists of my own), version of Pandorym's story presented in Elder Evils, but with a rather nasty twist at the end: With the help of a new BBEG I plan to introduce myself, Obligatum VII is able to free Pandorym's mind from his prison despite (and, because the BBEG in question is a manipulator, partly because of) the actions of the PCs, and with perfect knowledge of where his body is (And just to rub salt in the (mortal) wound, the BBEG then proceeds to sic Obligatum on the PCs, on the basis that "failing everyone" counts as a breach of contract). The last 10 levels (the encounter takes place at 20) are spent trying to save as many people as possible before Pandorym destroys them, while still trying to deal with (justifiable) feelings that it was all the party's fault ("You promised you'd be able to save the world! You promised!). No deus ex machinas here either: The Seal of Binding prevents the gods from doing anything other than contemplate the nature of their (soon to end) existence.
Despite the whole tragedy, I want the campagin to end on a happy note: Sure, you might not have been able to save this world, but at least you can ensure the people of it a place in the next one! OK, that probably won't stop the PCs from being all angsty, but at least it won't stop them from going into all out nihilism. The bad guy won't get away with it either: The final boss fight will be against him, and I fully intend on him getting his (really effing bad) karma.
So, besides forbidding the PCs from using the RP of suicidal depression to act all emo, what do you think this could use? How would you cast the thematic mood of places already ravaged by Pandorym? Given that I fully intend on everyone and their dog knowing perfectly well that the world is going to end, how would you show the effects on them?
Well, might as well post on this thread before we all die.
What they don't know is, the method it will come about is not at all a nice way.
You see, the plot of the campagin is an "upgraded" (still with the same characters and lay out, but with a few twists of my own), version of Pandorym's story presented in Elder Evils, but with a rather nasty twist at the end: With the help of a new BBEG I plan to introduce myself, Obligatum VII is able to free Pandorym's mind from his prison despite (and, because the BBEG in question is a manipulator, partly because of) the actions of the PCs, and with perfect knowledge of where his body is (And just to rub salt in the (mortal) wound, the BBEG then proceeds to sic Obligatum on the PCs, on the basis that "failing everyone" counts as a breach of contract). The last 10 levels (the encounter takes place at 20) are spent trying to save as many people as possible before Pandorym destroys them, while still trying to deal with (justifiable) feelings that it was all the party's fault ("You promised you'd be able to save the world! You promised!). No deus ex machinas here either: The Seal of Binding prevents the gods from doing anything other than contemplate the nature of their (soon to end) existence.
Despite the whole tragedy, I want the campagin to end on a happy note: Sure, you might not have been able to save this world, but at least you can ensure the people of it a place in the next one! OK, that probably won't stop the PCs from being all angsty, but at least it won't stop them from going into all out nihilism. The bad guy won't get away with it either: The final boss fight will be against him, and I fully intend on him getting his (really effing bad) karma.
So, besides forbidding the PCs from using the RP of suicidal depression to act all emo, what do you think this could use? How would you cast the thematic mood of places already ravaged by Pandorym? Given that I fully intend on everyone and their dog knowing perfectly well that the world is going to end, how would you show the effects on them?
Well, might as well post on this thread before we all die.