I'm just asking for some input for what could/should play out if a character uses Speak with Dead on an enemy commander. This guy is a (deceased) bugbear sorcerer and a sub-commander (one of five) of a HORDE of tiamat-aligned hobgoblins, bugbears, dragons, monsters etc (I'm running Red Hand of Doom but in 5E). The bugbear isn't a cleric nor especially favoured - he's the newest/lowest ranking commander and afterall he just failed (IE got killed!!).
My question pertains to his reward in the afterlife - Tiamat is pretty evil so if he dies and goes to hell (where tiamat currently is trapped) would he realise tiamat sucks and therefore turn against her, or would he like hell (constant warfare, giant dragon queen etc) and so be happy that he died well? Or alternatively would he go to a different afterlife-plane, one where Tiamat should be? (except that she's stuck in hell)
I can understand if he was a cleric or a favoured champion of Tiamat, but he's just a commander who worships Tiamat in a Tiamat based army, hence why I'm pondering.
The way I see it is say you were a paladin or cleric of Sune (CG goddess of love) and you died, and ended up in a sucky afterlife, then your enemies (and the enemies of Sune) used speak with dead on you, you might be tempted to help them to get payback for Sune not rewarding you after death?
I know 'its my table' but it has just made me wonder! My players are getting to the point now where they have access to powerful magics and abilities and equally are facing escalating threats and I want to be prepared for this because I know it's something they're going to want to do.
It doesn't matter what afterlife the creature ended up with.
This spell doesn't return the creature's soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events.
You're not actually talking to the creature. Its soul is still in the afterlife. The corpse has no idea what kind of afterlife its soul ended up with, and can only answer questions based on its memories from when it was alive. Since you're not really talking to the creature, it's doubtful the corpse would have any kind of agenda. Pretend the players are talking to a possibly uncooperative Google Assistant/Siri/Alexa.
It doesn't matter what afterlife the creature ended up with.
This spell doesn't return the creature's soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events.
Pretend the players are talking to a possibly uncooperative Google Assistant/Siri/Alexa.
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They had the idea to layer up a Zone of Truth before speaking with dead which is clever use of abilities. Though there's nothing that says it has to answer at all either!
That's one of those things where I personally think from an "in world consistency" perspective that Zone of Truth probably wouldn't work on the dead ... but because it's a creative solution by a player/character ( try not to punish those, but don't let 'em walk all over you, either ), and dramatically "cool", I'd let it happen :)
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Yeah I'm not sure how I'll run that. I do like to encourage creativity. And they've leveled to 6 so they're not local heroes anymore- they're moving up in the world. Also a bit of exposition by a corpse could fuel the story more which I'm all for.
Also I guess from closer reading of the spell it's a more mechanical thing ? The corpse isn't intelligent but has knowledge so to speak?
Hello fellow DMs!
I'm just asking for some input for what could/should play out if a character uses Speak with Dead on an enemy commander. This guy is a (deceased) bugbear sorcerer and a sub-commander (one of five) of a HORDE of tiamat-aligned hobgoblins, bugbears, dragons, monsters etc (I'm running Red Hand of Doom but in 5E). The bugbear isn't a cleric nor especially favoured - he's the newest/lowest ranking commander and afterall he just failed (IE got killed!!).
My question pertains to his reward in the afterlife - Tiamat is pretty evil so if he dies and goes to hell (where tiamat currently is trapped) would he realise tiamat sucks and therefore turn against her, or would he like hell (constant warfare, giant dragon queen etc) and so be happy that he died well? Or alternatively would he go to a different afterlife-plane, one where Tiamat should be? (except that she's stuck in hell)
I can understand if he was a cleric or a favoured champion of Tiamat, but he's just a commander who worships Tiamat in a Tiamat based army, hence why I'm pondering.
The way I see it is say you were a paladin or cleric of Sune (CG goddess of love) and you died, and ended up in a sucky afterlife, then your enemies (and the enemies of Sune) used speak with dead on you, you might be tempted to help them to get payback for Sune not rewarding you after death?
I know 'its my table' but it has just made me wonder! My players are getting to the point now where they have access to powerful magics and abilities and equally are facing escalating threats and I want to be prepared for this because I know it's something they're going to want to do.
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)
It doesn't matter what afterlife the creature ended up with.
You're not actually talking to the creature. Its soul is still in the afterlife. The corpse has no idea what kind of afterlife its soul ended up with, and can only answer questions based on its memories from when it was alive. Since you're not really talking to the creature, it's doubtful the corpse would have any kind of agenda. Pretend the players are talking to a possibly uncooperative Google Assistant/Siri/Alexa.
The Forum Infestation (TM)
Dungeonmastering since 1992!
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)
Also - the dead need not speak the truth.
If the party killed him, he might lie.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
They had the idea to layer up a Zone of Truth before speaking with dead which is clever use of abilities. Though there's nothing that says it has to answer at all either!
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)
That's one of those things where I personally think from an "in world consistency" perspective that Zone of Truth probably wouldn't work on the dead ... but because it's a creative solution by a player/character ( try not to punish those, but don't let 'em walk all over you, either ), and dramatically "cool", I'd let it happen :)
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Yeah I'm not sure how I'll run that. I do like to encourage creativity. And they've leveled to 6 so they're not local heroes anymore- they're moving up in the world. Also a bit of exposition by a corpse could fuel the story more which I'm all for.
Also I guess from closer reading of the spell it's a more mechanical thing ? The corpse isn't intelligent but has knowledge so to speak?
Southampton Guild of Roleplayers
My YouTube (C&C Welcome!)