One of the players at my table wants to play as a new character. The character he created isn't roleplaying the way he intended and the further we play the more and more it doesn't make sense that he stays with the party. HOWEVER, I'm not here to talk about that.
The party will eventually find their way to an academy who worships Kelemvor. They will come upon the ritual to bring him to this plane as a tainted and evil version of his former self and just as the ritual is finished, or will have some sort of fight to try and stop it, but it will happen regardless. Then when Kelemvor is summoned, he will toy with the party, eventually casting power word kill on the party member, killing him instantly. The only ones at my table who knows this will happen is me, the player knows the character will die, but not how or when, just "soon". I know the other players will not be expecting this.
I'm thinking this is how it might play out: Kelemvor will be summoned, the battle will stop, maybe the barbarian or monk will attack him, to which it will either miss or do very little damage as they will be 6th level I think at the time. Kelemvor will easily push them back and then do some sort of speech, maybe pull a Negan from Walking Dead and do an eeny meeny miny mo, kind of deal and then point his finger at the character. Then silence. He whispers, "Death" then a green line pierces from his finger to the player's head and he drops to the floor, cold and motionless.
SO, I want this to be a memorable moment, as this will set up the second half of the campaign we are doing. What are some tips on how to present this at the table. Any tips and critiques will be appreciated.
Everything you’ve just said sounds like a memorable encounter and it sounds like you have it all planned out. What is your plan for Kelemvor after your PC has died? You’re going to have one less player against a powerful enemy that is pretty certain he’s winning. What is his reason for leaving them rather than killing everybody?
Everything you’ve just said sounds like a memorable encounter and it sounds like you have it all planned out. What is your plan for Kelemvor after your PC has died? You’re going to have one less player against a powerful enemy that is pretty certain he’s winning. What is his reason for leaving them rather than killing everybody?
Well the player will create another character, one that has been affected by the academy, so the group won't be down one player. And one of the players used to be a part of the academy as a child, but left as an adult and has forsaken it. The character being killed off is his character's best friend. So I think he will let them live to suffer and see what he is going to do to the world. It's sort of the only thing I can think of that makes any kind of sense.
I would use he's not powerful to take them all out at once, but he literally just one shots a player so lol
My only critique is that this doesn't sound like an academy that worships Kelemvor, but one that worships Bane or Cyric.
Or perhaps Cyric, the Prince of Lies is manipulating the Worshipers, posing as Kelemvor to gain entry into this world as Ana Avatar?
I will be honest, the player just loved the name Kelemvor for his backstory as opposed to Bane. The full name is The Kelemvor Academy, so he thought it was more fitting. I'm just reskinning Kelemvor to what we need.
I love the idea you have! The only thing that jumps into my mind is to make the players feel even more powerless: some sort of mass hold person effect so the players are unable to do anything except watch as this scene plays out.
I love the idea you have! The only thing that jumps into my mind is to make the players feel even more powerless: some sort of mass hold person effect so the players are unable to do anything except watch as this scene plays out.
I think that is a great touch. I'm imagining a sort of the graveyard scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If any player tries to rush Kelemvor, because we have a half-orc barbarian and let's be honest it's at least a 90% possibility that he will do so, then a mass hold person to make them feel completely powerless. I like that.
Always good stuff DMThac0 which btw, I always pronounce as DM Taco lol even though that's probably not how it's supposed to be pronounced
I think that is a great touch. I'm imagining a sort of the graveyard scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If any player tries to rush Kelemvor, because we have a half-orc barbarian and let's be honest it's at least a 90% possibility that he will do so, then a mass hold person to make them feel completely powerless. I like that.
Let's be real, it's closer to 99% chance that he'll rush the guy!
I would use he's not powerful to take them all out at once, but he literally just one shots a player so lol
There could almost be a moment where he realises that casting power word kill and a mass hold person is quite a lot to do, seconds after being summoned. He has the strength to kill them all easily but not right now, he needs to regain a small bit of strength. His minions can deal with them as he makes his escape.
I would use he's not powerful to take them all out at once, but he literally just one shots a player so lol
There could almost be a moment where he realises that casting power word kill and a mass hold person is quite a lot to do, seconds after being summoned. He has the strength to kill them all easily but not right now, he needs to regain a small bit of strength. His minions can deal with them as he makes his escape.
I actually kind of like that too. He can attempt another power word kill and when it doesn't work, he will leave to gain more power. Good idea friend!
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Good point! Our monk will be 6th level, but this is his first actual campaign, so I don't think he (or the other players for that matter) know just how useful Stunning Strike can be. That being said, I do like your back up plan. The thing is, while Kelemvor isn't at full power, he should still have WAY more than enough hit points to survive a stunning strike, even if all the characters unleash their best techniques in that round. I imagine that the final battle with Kelemvor will take place at 17th level. I've got a little guide of arcs for my campaign, so they will most likely not be able to do serious damage to him, and if that does happen, then I will go with your plan and have him laugh in their faces!
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Good point! Our monk will be 6th level, but this is his first actual campaign, so I don't think he (or the other players for that matter) know just how useful Stunning Strike can be. That being said, I do like your back up plan. The thing is, while Kelemvor isn't at full power, he should still have WAY more than enough hit points to survive a stunning strike, even if all the characters unleash their best techniques in that round. I imagine that the final battle with Kelemvor will take place at 17th level. I've got a little guide of arcs for my campaign, so they will most likely not be able to do serious damage to him, and if that does happen, then I will go with your plan and have him laugh in their faces!
Where will the minions that summoned him be? They could potentially cast the hold spells, or even Prismatic Wall for a barrier, which could be cast by the big lackey of the big boss who has been organizing the summons. If there is only one way in for the party, a simple alarm spell would be sufficient to announce their arrival. The Prismatic Wall could be cast in response and be in place prior to the party rounding the last corner to see the summons completed. If an NPC were to charge the Wall, or a random bunny try to hop through, it could show what its about. At this juncture, PW:K could just be a show of power and something unique to the character (only dwarf, "Kelemvor HATES dwarves", etc.) could be the trigger. Another lackey could finish dimension door about that time, which could trigger a cave in if it's in a cave, which could be reason enough not to finish the party, since it's assumed that they'll be dead anyway. Have a secondary hall where the party can escape to, an allied NPC show up and cast dimension door for their escape, a bunch of rats head for the exit, or perhaps the cave in won't actually affect the party where they are standing and Kelemvor, senses not fully attuned from the summons and a little off due to the almost immediate casting, doesn't notice that it won't affect them.
Remember, you are under no obligation to even allow a battle to begin. The players can say "we launch a surprise attack!" or "I cast Fireball!" and your response can be that Kelemvor holds out his hand and the party is frozen. No battle, no initiative rolled, no Stunning Strikes. Neither the freezing magic nor the eventual killing magic need to be actual spells that exist from a book. [Justify this if you must with an ability you write on Kelemvor's Stat Block: The god has great power over lesser mortals (Characters under level 8). He can read their minds, freeze up to 10 of them as a reaction for up to 10 minutes by maintaining concentration, etc.]
My only concern is that the non-dying party members might find the whole thing a bit arbitrary, the death a bit random and such. So, might I suggest having a quiet word with the player about to die before the session. Hint that they will be meeting a very powerful NPC, who will give them a direct instruction. Advise the player to respond to that instruction with an insult and their wish for death will be fulfilled. Then after freezing the party, Kelemvor demands they stay silent and respect the sanctity of this holy temple or whatever. With luck the soon-to-be-dead responds with a timely blasphemous insult and the god can unleash his green death ray. The scene is thus an education about the very real danger of resisting or defying this being. Kelemvor can monologue for a little bit then disappear to regain his power or whatever his dastardly plan is.
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Can you stun a god? That's a roll con save behind the screen territory for me.
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Can you stun a god? That's a roll con save behind the screen territory for me.
Why am I seeing the scene from The Avengers that ends with Hulk walking away from Loki saying, "Puny god"?
Yea, you could stun a god, however it's exceedingly difficult. I had a player manage to crit Wee Jas and dealt a very, very significant amount of damage...and then got back handed into oblivion.
One of the players at my table wants to play as a new character. The character he created isn't roleplaying the way he intended and the further we play the more and more it doesn't make sense that he stays with the party. HOWEVER, I'm not here to talk about that.
The party will eventually find their way to an academy who worships Kelemvor. They will come upon the ritual to bring him to this plane as a tainted and evil version of his former self and just as the ritual is finished, or will have some sort of fight to try and stop it, but it will happen regardless. Then when Kelemvor is summoned, he will toy with the party, eventually casting power word kill on the party member, killing him instantly. The only ones at my table who knows this will happen is me, the player knows the character will die, but not how or when, just "soon". I know the other players will not be expecting this.
I'm thinking this is how it might play out: Kelemvor will be summoned, the battle will stop, maybe the barbarian or monk will attack him, to which it will either miss or do very little damage as they will be 6th level I think at the time. Kelemvor will easily push them back and then do some sort of speech, maybe pull a Negan from Walking Dead and do an eeny meeny miny mo, kind of deal and then point his finger at the character. Then silence. He whispers, "Death" then a green line pierces from his finger to the player's head and he drops to the floor, cold and motionless.
SO, I want this to be a memorable moment, as this will set up the second half of the campaign we are doing. What are some tips on how to present this at the table. Any tips and critiques will be appreciated.
Published Subclasses
Everything you’ve just said sounds like a memorable encounter and it sounds like you have it all planned out. What is your plan for Kelemvor after your PC has died? You’re going to have one less player against a powerful enemy that is pretty certain he’s winning. What is his reason for leaving them rather than killing everybody?
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
My only critique is that this doesn't sound like an academy that worships Kelemvor, but one that worships Bane or Cyric.
Or perhaps Cyric, the Prince of Lies is manipulating the Worshipers, posing as Kelemvor to gain entry into this world as Ana Avatar?
Well the player will create another character, one that has been affected by the academy, so the group won't be down one player. And one of the players used to be a part of the academy as a child, but left as an adult and has forsaken it. The character being killed off is his character's best friend. So I think he will let them live to suffer and see what he is going to do to the world. It's sort of the only thing I can think of that makes any kind of sense.
I would use he's not powerful to take them all out at once, but he literally just one shots a player so lol
I will be honest, the player just loved the name Kelemvor for his backstory as opposed to Bane. The full name is The Kelemvor Academy, so he thought it was more fitting. I'm just reskinning Kelemvor to what we need.
Published Subclasses
I love the idea you have! The only thing that jumps into my mind is to make the players feel even more powerless: some sort of mass hold person effect so the players are unable to do anything except watch as this scene plays out.
I think that is a great touch. I'm imagining a sort of the graveyard scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If any player tries to rush Kelemvor, because we have a half-orc barbarian and let's be honest it's at least a 90% possibility that he will do so, then a mass hold person to make them feel completely powerless. I like that.
Always good stuff DMThac0 which btw, I always pronounce as DM Taco lol even though that's probably not how it's supposed to be pronounced
Published Subclasses
Let's be real, it's closer to 99% chance that he'll rush the guy!
Thank you for the compliment! And yea you're pronouncing it wrong, even though that's a fun thought...DM Taco con queso!
THAC0 is a reference to old school AC calculations: To Hit Armor Class 0. So in this case you would pronounce the TH- A (like add) -Co
There could almost be a moment where he realises that casting power word kill and a mass hold person is quite a lot to do, seconds after being summoned. He has the strength to kill them all easily but not right now, he needs to regain a small bit of strength. His minions can deal with them as he makes his escape.
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
I actually kind of like that too. He can attempt another power word kill and when it doesn't work, he will leave to gain more power. Good idea friend!
Published Subclasses
Remember 1 crucial thing: Stunning Strike. If you have a single 6th level Monk, and they use it. There can be a whole mess of crap happening. I had that happen to me in a similar situation. And the Players ended up actually killing my big bad in a single round (6 players all 7th level, big bad was a modified Pit fiend). You can always do the whole “And as you stand over the corpse of *insert villain here* you hear a sickening laugh ring through the stones, “Your tools are fruitless, and your efforts in vain bwahaha” or whatever. But some players find that kind removals of agency a little aggravating. So just be careful.
For the record, your idea sounds like a really fun encounter. Hope it goes well.
Good point! Our monk will be 6th level, but this is his first actual campaign, so I don't think he (or the other players for that matter) know just how useful Stunning Strike can be. That being said, I do like your back up plan. The thing is, while Kelemvor isn't at full power, he should still have WAY more than enough hit points to survive a stunning strike, even if all the characters unleash their best techniques in that round. I imagine that the final battle with Kelemvor will take place at 17th level. I've got a little guide of arcs for my campaign, so they will most likely not be able to do serious damage to him, and if that does happen, then I will go with your plan and have him laugh in their faces!
Published Subclasses
Where will the minions that summoned him be? They could potentially cast the hold spells, or even Prismatic Wall for a barrier, which could be cast by the big lackey of the big boss who has been organizing the summons. If there is only one way in for the party, a simple alarm spell would be sufficient to announce their arrival. The Prismatic Wall could be cast in response and be in place prior to the party rounding the last corner to see the summons completed. If an NPC were to charge the Wall, or a random bunny try to hop through, it could show what its about. At this juncture, PW:K could just be a show of power and something unique to the character (only dwarf, "Kelemvor HATES dwarves", etc.) could be the trigger. Another lackey could finish dimension door about that time, which could trigger a cave in if it's in a cave, which could be reason enough not to finish the party, since it's assumed that they'll be dead anyway. Have a secondary hall where the party can escape to, an allied NPC show up and cast dimension door for their escape, a bunch of rats head for the exit, or perhaps the cave in won't actually affect the party where they are standing and Kelemvor, senses not fully attuned from the summons and a little off due to the almost immediate casting, doesn't notice that it won't affect them.
Remember, you are under no obligation to even allow a battle to begin. The players can say "we launch a surprise attack!" or "I cast Fireball!" and your response can be that Kelemvor holds out his hand and the party is frozen. No battle, no initiative rolled, no Stunning Strikes. Neither the freezing magic nor the eventual killing magic need to be actual spells that exist from a book. [Justify this if you must with an ability you write on Kelemvor's Stat Block: The god has great power over lesser mortals (Characters under level 8). He can read their minds, freeze up to 10 of them as a reaction for up to 10 minutes by maintaining concentration, etc.]
My only concern is that the non-dying party members might find the whole thing a bit arbitrary, the death a bit random and such. So, might I suggest having a quiet word with the player about to die before the session. Hint that they will be meeting a very powerful NPC, who will give them a direct instruction. Advise the player to respond to that instruction with an insult and their wish for death will be fulfilled. Then after freezing the party, Kelemvor demands they stay silent and respect the sanctity of this holy temple or whatever. With luck the soon-to-be-dead responds with a timely blasphemous insult and the god can unleash his green death ray. The scene is thus an education about the very real danger of resisting or defying this being. Kelemvor can monologue for a little bit then disappear to regain his power or whatever his dastardly plan is.
Can you stun a god? That's a roll con save behind the screen territory for me.
Why am I seeing the scene from The Avengers that ends with Hulk walking away from Loki saying, "Puny god"?
Heh, fun scene!
Yea, you could stun a god, however it's exceedingly difficult. I had a player manage to crit Wee Jas and dealt a very, very significant amount of damage...and then got back handed into oblivion.