My players are very, very clever. So it's quite a challenge to give them a challenge as they are constantly coming up with unexpected tactics and approaches to dealing with obstacles.
I set up an encounter with a Death Knight, it came very close to a TPK, but they managed to get through it. However, they went for just an all-out assault tactic. That means they've only "killed" it for now.
According to the MM, you can't really kill a Death Knight permanently unless you can either get it to repent its misdeeds or use some very specific magical means/ceremony. Neither of these things have happened yet. I know the backstory of the Death Knight, how it was created, and what needs to happen in order for it to repent. I don't have a solution for a "permanent kill" - but I'm thinking some sort of holy weapon from a rival deity that isn't going to be immediately available and they will have to quest for.
What I don't get a sense of is how does a Death Knight "return" from being "killed"? I'm asking because one of the players decided to behead the body, leave the head behind, and drag the headless body with him - probably with some plan to destroy it at some point. The session ended due to a time constraint, so this is all still unresolved.
I've tried to find some more information out there, but it's very vague or non-existent. I'm guessing I'll just have to make something up. But I figure this is a problem that someone has already dealt with and solved.
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Si periculum aut dubio, curre in circulo, clamor et quirito.
You could just have the body and head fade away or turn to ash like Avengers Infinity war. Or just form a new body all together in his crypt. Put a time for the reconstitution, 1 week, 1 month whatever works for you. So he drags thebody for a week and while dragging the body dissipates into ash right in his hand and blows away. Don't wait a week could be right then and there. Then he could pop up whenever seems right later, could be next session or wait a few sessions when they forget about him and bam there he is just when they are about to encounter someone else, now they are in between two encounters, or he shows up just when they finish another encounter. You can even make him stronger, each time he dies, comes back with more hp's maybe more spells or special powers, that way he can scale up as the party leveled up keeping the fight tight.
I really like that! Although, I might go with black goo that seeps through the armor and gets absorbed into the castle grounds.
I'll have to figure out how long it'll take to reform. Probably awhile. That will give them some time to decide how to prepare for the next time, if there is a next time. They still have to wade through a home brew Death Priest and the remaining undead underlings.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Si periculum aut dubio, curre in circulo, clamor et quirito.
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My players are very, very clever. So it's quite a challenge to give them a challenge as they are constantly coming up with unexpected tactics and approaches to dealing with obstacles.
I set up an encounter with a Death Knight, it came very close to a TPK, but they managed to get through it. However, they went for just an all-out assault tactic. That means they've only "killed" it for now.
According to the MM, you can't really kill a Death Knight permanently unless you can either get it to repent its misdeeds or use some very specific magical means/ceremony. Neither of these things have happened yet. I know the backstory of the Death Knight, how it was created, and what needs to happen in order for it to repent. I don't have a solution for a "permanent kill" - but I'm thinking some sort of holy weapon from a rival deity that isn't going to be immediately available and they will have to quest for.
What I don't get a sense of is how does a Death Knight "return" from being "killed"? I'm asking because one of the players decided to behead the body, leave the head behind, and drag the headless body with him - probably with some plan to destroy it at some point. The session ended due to a time constraint, so this is all still unresolved.
I've tried to find some more information out there, but it's very vague or non-existent. I'm guessing I'll just have to make something up. But I figure this is a problem that someone has already dealt with and solved.
Si periculum aut dubio, curre in circulo, clamor et quirito.
You could just have the body and head fade away or turn to ash like Avengers Infinity war. Or just form a new body all together in his crypt. Put a time for the reconstitution, 1 week, 1 month whatever works for you. So he drags thebody for a week and while dragging the body dissipates into ash right in his hand and blows away. Don't wait a week could be right then and there. Then he could pop up whenever seems right later, could be next session or wait a few sessions when they forget about him and bam there he is just when they are about to encounter someone else, now they are in between two encounters, or he shows up just when they finish another encounter. You can even make him stronger, each time he dies, comes back with more hp's maybe more spells or special powers, that way he can scale up as the party leveled up keeping the fight tight.
I really like that! Although, I might go with black goo that seeps through the armor and gets absorbed into the castle grounds.
I'll have to figure out how long it'll take to reform. Probably awhile. That will give them some time to decide how to prepare for the next time, if there is a next time. They still have to wade through a home brew Death Priest and the remaining undead underlings.
Si periculum aut dubio, curre in circulo, clamor et quirito.