In an upcoming session, the group I DM for will be getting directed to go to a temple to Bahamut. At the temple, I plan to have them face some trials to prove that they're worthy to meet the gold dragon inside that is a mouthpiece of Bahamut. I plan to have the last test be a fight against the guardians of the temple, but what other tests and trials can I put in to make it interesting? I'll probably put a puzzle or two in, but does anyone have any other suggestions or ideas? Thanks.
The party is told that their test is to best a group of acolytes in combat. The win condition for the test is the surrender of all 5 accolytes to the party. Only one of them refuses to yield. She goes down to a knee, and she picks herself up and demands that the fight go on. She gets down again (1-2 HP level) and she stands up and lunges at the party. She is clearly not going to win but she insists the fight continue.
If the party kills her, they lose the test.
Because the real test was one of mercy, of recognizing when fighting wasn't noble or honorable.
The party is told that their test is to best a group of acolytes in combat. The win condition for the test is the surrender of all 5 accolytes to the party. Only one of them refuses to yield. She goes down to a knee, and she picks herself up and demands that the fight go on. She gets down again (1-2 HP level) and she stands up and lunges at the party. She is clearly not going to win but she insists the fight continue.
If the party kills her, they lose the test.
Because the real test was one of mercy, of recognizing when fighting wasn't noble or honorable.
Not to side track this, but what’s the party supposed to do if the person refuses to surrender? (Keeping in mind there are many players who don’t know they can choose to deal non-lethal damage.) I’m with you up until there, seeing if the party will accept a surrender can be a test of their character. But if the person is refusing to surrender, that’s not on the party anymore. Especially if they are being deceptive about it by taking a knee and then popping up. Unless you mean, if one person keeps fighting, and the rest surrender and the party decides to kill everyone, including those who surrender.
First thing is to define what you consider "Worthy". Bahamut (I find with minimal googling) is "a deityof gooddragons, metallicdragons, wisdom, andenlightenedjustice (justicetempered with mercyandpunishment with forgiveness)."
So the things that Bahamut would look for in their trials would be goodness (Bahamut despises evil), Wisdom and Justice. He also has "limitless empathy for the downtrodden, the dispossessed, and the helpless".
So I'd have 3 trials, but not make them the obvious ones. For example:
the first trial appears to be to solve a puzzle to open the door, but there is a beggar beside the entrance who is asking for help of some sort. Try to make them in such a way that they would repulse the party - EG if one character has a dislike for the Drow, make them a Drow. The puzzle to get in is not difficult, but it was not really the test - the test was to help the beggar, even though you had reasons not to. this won't be revealed until you get further in.
The second trial is one of Wisdom, and will need another puzzle, only wisdom based. Perhaps present a moral conundrum to the party, and see if they have the wisdom to solve it. I can't think of one off the bat here! Something like two people claiming they need the last loaf of bread, and the party need to decide who gets it. Make it more difficult by making one of them plump and rich looking and one skinny, so the party thinks "Ah, the rich guy can go and get bread somewhere else because he is rich!" and miss that this is the last loaf, and both of them are hungry, so it should be split.
The third trial is one of Justice. Perhaps have someone attack them, and then see if they immediately kill them or if they try to reason with them, and allow them to surrender, or if they use non-lethal attacks.
at the end of the third trial, the attacker will transform into the gold dragon they have sought out (possibly after what should have been a fatal blow strikes them harmlessly). And here's the kicker:
"justice tempered with mercyandpunishment with forgiveness"
Whateer the result of the trials, the gold dragon will see them - but they may have to prove themselves further, or make good any wrongs they have done. to be judged mercifully, and punished with forgiveness for their trespasses.
This way, you can always alow the plot to progress, but their standing with the gold dragon will be different depending on how well they perform. They may have to perform some other quests to prove themselves - bounties or community service, as punishments. Perhaps act as enforcers for the draconic law - if they are powerful enough, they could be sent to deliver summons to an evil dragon, and perhaps even bring them in for justice. Or perhaps just find a foul bandit who needs to be brought in, and then see that the bandit is offered a chance of salvation. Maybe even bring said bandit back much later in the campaign as a paladin NPC!
Because the real test was one of mercy, of recognizing when fighting wasn't noble or honorable.
Not to side track this, but what’s the party supposed to do if the person refuses to surrender? (Keeping in mind there are many players who don’t know they can choose to deal non-lethal damage.) I’m with you up until there, seeing if the party will accept a surrender can be a test of their character. But if the person is refusing to surrender, that’s not on the party anymore. Especially if they are being deceptive about it by taking a knee and then popping up. Unless you mean, if one person keeps fighting, and the rest surrender and the party decides to kill everyone, including those who surrender.
Well I didn't mean to imply deception with the "knocked back on her knee and then stands back up" as opposed to "takes a knee and then 'changes her mind'." But I sorta see what you're saying though I disagree- It's always on the party to make choices. Even if a character doesn't know they can do Non-Lethal Damage the player can/ should ask. Here's what I see as ways to telegraph "the test":
a) Let them roll insight to see that this accolyte will absolutely fight to the death (unlike the others) if she's able to. This reminds the party that there is something unique here and they may change course.
b) Remind them of non-lethal damage even if it's just in casual mode. Aka: Player rolls and does 5 damage. Ask them "Do you want that to be lethal or non-lethal damage?" It's a little heavy handed but it does provide room to remind them.
c) Make it clear that the others are NOT continuing their attacks once they're bested. This one is sticking out as 'breaking the rules' by pressing her attack despite being bested. It's another way to communicate a "are you sure you want to kill her?" without being QUITE so overt.
I get what you're saying but I think there's room to put that on the players. They know that it's a test they should be thinking about the meta tests. And of course if they fail one, there's room for more.
That said, your mileage may vary. Some tables I know would LOVE being told they failed because they missed that the test was of Mercy and they'd appreciate the twist on it. Other tables would just feel cheated. A good case of knowing your players.
You might take inspiration from Rime of the frost maiden and the tests of the frost maiden . They involve teleporting players to situations and seeing how they resolve them but you could also use illusions, dreams or riddles.
Bahamut is also obviously a dragon god so the temple could be designed for dragons. Huge doors to big for humans to open alone, large chasms that dragons would fly across. Mechanisms that require breath weapons. This would mix some tests of strength and power in even if bahamut isn't really a god of those things.
Knowledge
Contribute to the dragons hoard, bring a story, song or secret he doesn't know
Riddle
A song or nursery rhyme as a password
Justice
You could use questions/ problems from Kholberg's stages of moral development. He was a psychologist who tried to make a test for how advanced peoples moral thinking is. Regardless of what you think of the theory he has a bunch of moral questions with a range of complexity. To pass they'd have to answer or solve a scenario o what you think is bahamuts style of thinking.
These are questions like, a poor man steals medicine to give to some one who is sick. Should they have stolen the drug and should they be arrested? ect...
There are loads of these kinds of moral quandries online if you look up kohlberg.
Mercy
They could
have to forgive some one who wronged them ( perhaps bahamut after they agree to it magically makes it so they can never harm them)
You could do another moral question and this time it is mercy
Purity
Players might be haunted by apparitions of all those they have wronged
magic gates
Tiamat is from ancient sumerian myth and generally bahamut and tiamat have the vibe so you could copy a story from them. Inanna's decent. In this story Ishtar/inanna after starting a war that killed the divine bull sought to attend his funeral in the underworld. As she traveled there at every gate she had to sacrifice an item of clothing and some power before being left naked and powerless before the god of death to be judged and ultimately executed for her sin.
They could have to:
Sacrifice an item or some power
admit to a sin and receive punishment. You could play a game " never have I ever" and any one who has done it gets zapped
Other stuff
I recently saw this trap that you might like it's a trap called the oath of pacifism
Hey all!
In an upcoming session, the group I DM for will be getting directed to go to a temple to Bahamut. At the temple, I plan to have them face some trials to prove that they're worthy to meet the gold dragon inside that is a mouthpiece of Bahamut. I plan to have the last test be a fight against the guardians of the temple, but what other tests and trials can I put in to make it interesting? I'll probably put a puzzle or two in, but does anyone have any other suggestions or ideas? Thanks.
Some kind of morality test. Will you save the person or take the powerful magic item, that kind of thing.
The best tests are the tests they don't see.
Example:
The party is told that their test is to best a group of acolytes in combat. The win condition for the test is the surrender of all 5 accolytes to the party. Only one of them refuses to yield. She goes down to a knee, and she picks herself up and demands that the fight go on. She gets down again (1-2 HP level) and she stands up and lunges at the party. She is clearly not going to win but she insists the fight continue.
If the party kills her, they lose the test.
Because the real test was one of mercy, of recognizing when fighting wasn't noble or honorable.
"Teller of tales, dreamer of dreams"
Tips, Tricks, Maps: Lantern Noir Presents
**Streams hosted at at twitch.tv/LaternNoir
Not to side track this, but what’s the party supposed to do if the person refuses to surrender? (Keeping in mind there are many players who don’t know they can choose to deal non-lethal damage.) I’m with you up until there, seeing if the party will accept a surrender can be a test of their character. But if the person is refusing to surrender, that’s not on the party anymore. Especially if they are being deceptive about it by taking a knee and then popping up. Unless you mean, if one person keeps fighting, and the rest surrender and the party decides to kill everyone, including those who surrender.
First thing is to define what you consider "Worthy". Bahamut (I find with minimal googling) is "a deity of good dragons, metallic dragons, wisdom, and enlightened justice (justice tempered with mercy and punishment with forgiveness)."
So the things that Bahamut would look for in their trials would be goodness (Bahamut despises evil), Wisdom and Justice. He also has "limitless empathy for the downtrodden, the dispossessed, and the helpless".
So I'd have 3 trials, but not make them the obvious ones. For example:
the first trial appears to be to solve a puzzle to open the door, but there is a beggar beside the entrance who is asking for help of some sort. Try to make them in such a way that they would repulse the party - EG if one character has a dislike for the Drow, make them a Drow. The puzzle to get in is not difficult, but it was not really the test - the test was to help the beggar, even though you had reasons not to. this won't be revealed until you get further in.
The second trial is one of Wisdom, and will need another puzzle, only wisdom based. Perhaps present a moral conundrum to the party, and see if they have the wisdom to solve it. I can't think of one off the bat here! Something like two people claiming they need the last loaf of bread, and the party need to decide who gets it. Make it more difficult by making one of them plump and rich looking and one skinny, so the party thinks "Ah, the rich guy can go and get bread somewhere else because he is rich!" and miss that this is the last loaf, and both of them are hungry, so it should be split.
The third trial is one of Justice. Perhaps have someone attack them, and then see if they immediately kill them or if they try to reason with them, and allow them to surrender, or if they use non-lethal attacks.
at the end of the third trial, the attacker will transform into the gold dragon they have sought out (possibly after what should have been a fatal blow strikes them harmlessly). And here's the kicker:
"justice tempered with mercy and punishment with forgiveness"
Whateer the result of the trials, the gold dragon will see them - but they may have to prove themselves further, or make good any wrongs they have done. to be judged mercifully, and punished with forgiveness for their trespasses.
This way, you can always alow the plot to progress, but their standing with the gold dragon will be different depending on how well they perform. They may have to perform some other quests to prove themselves - bounties or community service, as punishments. Perhaps act as enforcers for the draconic law - if they are powerful enough, they could be sent to deliver summons to an evil dragon, and perhaps even bring them in for justice. Or perhaps just find a foul bandit who needs to be brought in, and then see that the bandit is offered a chance of salvation. Maybe even bring said bandit back much later in the campaign as a paladin NPC!
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Well I didn't mean to imply deception with the "knocked back on her knee and then stands back up" as opposed to "takes a knee and then 'changes her mind'." But I sorta see what you're saying though I disagree- It's always on the party to make choices. Even if a character doesn't know they can do Non-Lethal Damage the player can/ should ask. Here's what I see as ways to telegraph "the test":
a) Let them roll insight to see that this accolyte will absolutely fight to the death (unlike the others) if she's able to. This reminds the party that there is something unique here and they may change course.
b) Remind them of non-lethal damage even if it's just in casual mode. Aka: Player rolls and does 5 damage. Ask them "Do you want that to be lethal or non-lethal damage?" It's a little heavy handed but it does provide room to remind them.
c) Make it clear that the others are NOT continuing their attacks once they're bested. This one is sticking out as 'breaking the rules' by pressing her attack despite being bested. It's another way to communicate a "are you sure you want to kill her?" without being QUITE so overt.
I get what you're saying but I think there's room to put that on the players. They know that it's a test they should be thinking about the meta tests. And of course if they fail one, there's room for more.
That said, your mileage may vary. Some tables I know would LOVE being told they failed because they missed that the test was of Mercy and they'd appreciate the twist on it. Other tables would just feel cheated. A good case of knowing your players.
"Teller of tales, dreamer of dreams"
Tips, Tricks, Maps: Lantern Noir Presents
**Streams hosted at at twitch.tv/LaternNoir
General
Bahamut in DnD general values the following:
You might take inspiration from Rime of the frost maiden and the tests of the frost maiden . They involve teleporting players to situations and seeing how they resolve them but you could also use illusions, dreams or riddles.
Bahamut is also obviously a dragon god so the temple could be designed for dragons. Huge doors to big for humans to open alone, large chasms that dragons would fly across. Mechanisms that require breath weapons. This would mix some tests of strength and power in even if bahamut isn't really a god of those things.
Knowledge
Justice
You could use questions/ problems from Kholberg's stages of moral development. He was a psychologist who tried to make a test for how advanced peoples moral thinking is. Regardless of what you think of the theory he has a bunch of moral questions with a range of complexity. To pass they'd have to answer or solve a scenario o what you think is bahamuts style of thinking.
These are questions like, a poor man steals medicine to give to some one who is sick. Should they have stolen the drug and should they be arrested? ect...
There are loads of these kinds of moral quandries online if you look up kohlberg.
Mercy
They could
Purity
magic gates
Tiamat is from ancient sumerian myth and generally bahamut and tiamat have the vibe so you could copy a story from them. Inanna's decent. In this story Ishtar/inanna after starting a war that killed the divine bull sought to attend his funeral in the underworld. As she traveled there at every gate she had to sacrifice an item of clothing and some power before being left naked and powerless before the god of death to be judged and ultimately executed for her sin.
They could have to:
Other stuff
I recently saw this trap that you might like it's a trap called the oath of pacifism
All of the replies here are amazing!! Thanks for all the ideas!