Hi! So, as the title says, in a few months I'll be running DiA, but my group (carried over from the previous campaign, LMoP/DoIP) is made of evil PCs, corrupted via a pact with Asmodeus himself.
I have my ideas as to why Asmodeus would want Zariel's plans to fail (using the power vacuum of her defeat to restore Avernus into the honeyed trap it once was, and using the power of the Companion to move the Blood War to the Abyss instead somehow). He also can't do it himself because he sees it as trivial politics, and has more interest in it "happening" than in causing it directly.
The issues I do have, however, are the following.
- The last chapter supposes the Companion's destruction in multiple endings, most notably by a redeemed Zariel's hand. While it's not too hard to imagine Asmodeus intervening directly to prevent such a blow to his plan, I'm worried about it being anti-climactic. In general, there are many ways the Companion could be destroyed, and I'm not sure if I should go the way of having Asmodeus prevent that, or change his original plan.
- Being such clear allies with Asmodeus pretty much prevents the characters from swearing allegiance to Zariel. Is that an issue? Perhaps they still could, but I just didn't get the idea yet?
- Were Lulu to become aware of their allegiance, how would she react? I'm guessing poorly. Alternatively, what if the players decide they want to get rid of Lulu?
- Unless they start acting very differently, none of the characters will be able to attune to the sword of Zariel. Is that an issue?
The rest I can manage, but on first book read, I could use insight on this.
I don't know, maybe try to make another Good party made of npcs to be "running" the adventure as the script says and then the bad PCs come up to try to thwart the plans of this other group of adventurers?
The last chapter supposes the Companion's destruction in multiple endings, most notably by a redeemed Zariel's hand. While it's not too hard to imagine Asmodeus intervening directly to prevent such a blow to his plan, I'm worried about it being anti-climactic. In general, there are many ways the Companion could be destroyed, and I'm not sure if I should go the way of having Asmodeus prevent that, or change his original plan.
Asmodeus is a master manipulator and has numerous schemes in action and just as many (if not more) contingency plans prepared. Who's to say that Asmodeus ultimately doesn't actually want the Companion to be destroyed? With Elturel already literally dragged to Hell, perhaps the damage is already done? How many lives were lost? How many souls are permanently tainted, since the powers of goodness failed those in need? Returning Elturel to the prime material means that those who survived carry those infernal scars back with them...and those seeds may bear the fruits that Asmodeus wants to harvest in the future.
Plus, from a more metagame standpoint, you can always wait to see how the campaign plays out and just twist things a bit near the end to ensure that whatever happens was Asmodeus's true plans. It wouldn't be unlikely for him to be dishonest (or at least not fully honest) about his true intentions and motivations with the characters.
Being such clear allies with Asmodeus pretty much prevents the characters from swearing allegiance to Zariel. Is that an issue? Perhaps they still could, but I just didn't get the idea yet?
Well, Zariel serves Asmodeus, so the characters swearing allegience to Zariel doesn't mean that they aren't still clearly allies of Asmodeus as well. Unless Zariel explicitly tells them to disobey Asmodeus's orders, they just are serving another patron...or having to deal with a middle manager? Besides, Asmodeus constatly has loyal devils serving under the other various Lords of the Nine. They woud just be another group serving him in such a capacity.
Were Lulu to become aware of their allegiance, how would she react? I'm guessing poorly. Alternatively, what if the players decide they want to get rid of Lulu?
Lulu knowing that the characters are evil and serving Asmodeus could prove problematic, since multiple portions of the adventure involve Lulu being actively involved with the group. I would recommend letting the players (and their characters) know that Lulu needs to be kept with them. Perhaps, Asmodeus wants them to play the part of "sympathetic mortals", who are there to help Lulu recover her memories. However, Asmodeus wants the information for his own plans and purposes. Characters just know that it's important to "help" Lulu recover her memories before something happens to her.
Unless they start acting very differently, none of the characters will be able to attune to the sword of Zariel. Is that an issue?
Attuning to the sword isn't necessary required for the adventure to be completed, especially if the party is a group of evil characters. Asmodeus might want them to collect the sword so it can be destroyed versus using it to destroy the Companion or redeeming Zariel... Maybe retrieving the sword and destroying it is Asmodeus's plan to ensure Zariel's ongoing loyalty and servitude to him.
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Hi! So, as the title says, in a few months I'll be running DiA, but my group (carried over from the previous campaign, LMoP/DoIP) is made of evil PCs, corrupted via a pact with Asmodeus himself.
I have my ideas as to why Asmodeus would want Zariel's plans to fail (using the power vacuum of her defeat to restore Avernus into the honeyed trap it once was, and using the power of the Companion to move the Blood War to the Abyss instead somehow). He also can't do it himself because he sees it as trivial politics, and has more interest in it "happening" than in causing it directly.
The issues I do have, however, are the following.
- The last chapter supposes the Companion's destruction in multiple endings, most notably by a redeemed Zariel's hand. While it's not too hard to imagine Asmodeus intervening directly to prevent such a blow to his plan, I'm worried about it being anti-climactic. In general, there are many ways the Companion could be destroyed, and I'm not sure if I should go the way of having Asmodeus prevent that, or change his original plan.
- Being such clear allies with Asmodeus pretty much prevents the characters from swearing allegiance to Zariel. Is that an issue? Perhaps they still could, but I just didn't get the idea yet?
- Were Lulu to become aware of their allegiance, how would she react? I'm guessing poorly. Alternatively, what if the players decide they want to get rid of Lulu?
- Unless they start acting very differently, none of the characters will be able to attune to the sword of Zariel. Is that an issue?
The rest I can manage, but on first book read, I could use insight on this.
I don't know, maybe try to make another Good party made of npcs to be "running" the adventure as the script says and then the bad PCs come up to try to thwart the plans of this other group of adventurers?
Asmodeus is a master manipulator and has numerous schemes in action and just as many (if not more) contingency plans prepared. Who's to say that Asmodeus ultimately doesn't actually want the Companion to be destroyed? With Elturel already literally dragged to Hell, perhaps the damage is already done? How many lives were lost? How many souls are permanently tainted, since the powers of goodness failed those in need? Returning Elturel to the prime material means that those who survived carry those infernal scars back with them...and those seeds may bear the fruits that Asmodeus wants to harvest in the future.
Plus, from a more metagame standpoint, you can always wait to see how the campaign plays out and just twist things a bit near the end to ensure that whatever happens was Asmodeus's true plans. It wouldn't be unlikely for him to be dishonest (or at least not fully honest) about his true intentions and motivations with the characters.
Well, Zariel serves Asmodeus, so the characters swearing allegience to Zariel doesn't mean that they aren't still clearly allies of Asmodeus as well. Unless Zariel explicitly tells them to disobey Asmodeus's orders, they just are serving another patron...or having to deal with a middle manager? Besides, Asmodeus constatly has loyal devils serving under the other various Lords of the Nine. They woud just be another group serving him in such a capacity.
Lulu knowing that the characters are evil and serving Asmodeus could prove problematic, since multiple portions of the adventure involve Lulu being actively involved with the group. I would recommend letting the players (and their characters) know that Lulu needs to be kept with them. Perhaps, Asmodeus wants them to play the part of "sympathetic mortals", who are there to help Lulu recover her memories. However, Asmodeus wants the information for his own plans and purposes. Characters just know that it's important to "help" Lulu recover her memories before something happens to her.
Attuning to the sword isn't necessary required for the adventure to be completed, especially if the party is a group of evil characters. Asmodeus might want them to collect the sword so it can be destroyed versus using it to destroy the Companion or redeeming Zariel... Maybe retrieving the sword and destroying it is Asmodeus's plan to ensure Zariel's ongoing loyalty and servitude to him.