I have a Paladin PC who is currently a Paladin of Leira, goddess of lies. He's committed some fairly evil deeds, such as murdering an innocent NPC (Ireena) because one of Strahd's brides said she'd help him if he did, and to mess with Strahd. He's since progressively done more good deeds, such as helping refugees from Vallaki and saving Muriel's fiance from druids even though he likes Muriel and could have easily let her fiance die. The PC would like his Paladin to have a redemption arc and begin to serve a different deity.
I've given hooks to this new deity (which we chose together), Tamara the dragon goddess of Mercy. I changed the Knights of Argynvost to serve Tamara, so he received a vision about her when he first entered the chapel. She basically told him that he is corrupted but can still change his ways and be welcomed into the light. He found a book about her tenets with Argynvost's books, and received two dreams about her where she said the same thing as before. After getting the skull back to its mausoleum and lighting the Beacon, Godfrey knighted him as a Knight of Argynvost and Upholder of Tamara's mercy.
The player is requesting one last push in Tamara's direction and that will be enough to start the character on his redemption journey. My first thought was another dream or vision, but due to his backstory and the dark powers trying to tempt him in his dreams, he doesn't trust dreams much.
What's something that isn't a dream that I could use to get the PC more interested in the new deity? So far one of my ideas has been to have her intervene if he's in a dire combat situation, such as helping him make a save he fails.
Instead of a vision or the goddess intervening directly, why not provide him an opportunity to actively enact Tamara's tenets, even partially, that he read in the book. This could be the last test from the goddess to determine if he truly wants to change from his past ways, by putting his convictions to the test instead of directly intervening herself.
Instead of a vision or the goddess intervening directly, why not provide him an opportunity to actively enact Tamara's tenets, even partially, that he read in the book. This could be the last test from the goddess to determine if he truly wants to change from his past ways, by putting his convictions to the test instead of directly intervening herself.
I agree. I think that having him actively see the benefit of Mercy would be a good idea thematically. You could also do the reverse and have your PC on the receiving end of Mercy. Perhaps his guilt over Ireena's murder spurs him to seek out communion with her from beyond. Maybe he thinks that the shadow of guilt he feels is a result of her spirit attempting to curse him from beyond. Maybe give him a reason to believe her spirit is trying to cause him ill will. Then, upon successfully contacting her he finds out that she has chosen to show him Mercy and forgives him of his sins. This personal experience of mercy where he deserved none could serve to show him the benefits and glory of his new goddess, and his desire to spread that feeling of relief and forgiveness to others. Something like that anyway. Hope that helps!
Instead of presenting them with dreams or visions present them with choices - only don’t tell the player. Instead of telling them when the character is redeemed have the pc need to play the character in a way that would be redeemed. Create multiple situations where the tenets of Tamara & Leira could be applied and see what the player chooses.
Why is the God reaching out to him? If he wants redemption then it is his job to get closer to her, not the other way around.
If the character is going to turn around then make it hard. Present him with choices where he has to choose between doing the right thing or the easy thing. And give him no reassurance from Tamara. Nothing. Not until he has made amends for all his previous evil deeds.
If you need help, have an NPC explain it to him. Have a truly holy person laugh at his title as "upholder of mercy" as fake. If he truly wants that to be legitimate then he has to earn it. Spice it up with the NPC boldly stating that he doesn't believe that the PC has a chance, that he doesn't have the courage required for mercy. He's a coward. Cowards hide behind lies.
He's already on his redemption journey. He just doesn't know it.
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Instead of a vision or the goddess intervening directly, why not provide him an opportunity to actively enact Tamara's tenets, even partially, that he read in the book. This could be the last test from the goddess to determine if he truly wants to change from his past ways, by putting his convictions to the test instead of directly intervening herself.
I agree. I think that having him actively see the benefit of Mercy would be a good idea thematically. You could also do the reverse and have your PC on the receiving end of Mercy. Perhaps his guilt over Ireena's murder spurs him to seek out communion with her from beyond. Maybe he thinks that the shadow of guilt he feels is a result of her spirit attempting to curse him from beyond. Maybe give him a reason to believe her spirit is trying to cause him ill will. Then, upon successfully contacting her he finds out that she has chosen to show him Mercy and forgives him of his sins. This personal experience of mercy where he deserved none could serve to show him the benefits and glory of his new goddess, and his desire to spread that feeling of relief and forgiveness to others. Something like that anyway. Hope that helps!
Instead of presenting them with dreams or visions present them with choices - only don’t tell the player. Instead of telling them when the character is redeemed have the pc need to play the character in a way that would be redeemed. Create multiple situations where the tenets of Tamara & Leira could be applied and see what the player chooses.
Why is the God reaching out to him? If he wants redemption then it is his job to get closer to her, not the other way around.
If the character is going to turn around then make it hard. Present him with choices where he has to choose between doing the right thing or the easy thing. And give him no reassurance from Tamara. Nothing. Not until he has made amends for all his previous evil deeds.
If you need help, have an NPC explain it to him. Have a truly holy person laugh at his title as "upholder of mercy" as fake. If he truly wants that to be legitimate then he has to earn it. Spice it up with the NPC boldly stating that he doesn't believe that the PC has a chance, that he doesn't have the courage required for mercy. He's a coward. Cowards hide behind lies.
He's already on his redemption journey. He just doesn't know it.