I am working on a quest where a Cleric of Mystra wants to stop Larloch the Lich from resurrecting Orcus. Larloch would not battle the servants of the goddess of magic, Mystra, whom he called "the Lady", saying that "No matter how powerful one becomes, there are always those who are stronger."
The party wants to stop the ritual and when the rest of the group do battle with members of the cult of Orcus, i am thinking on ways how the Cleric could summon Mystra to stop Larloch.
Questions i have is: 1. Would it be possible to have most of the party fighting and let the cleric do the summon in the background. 2. What would be a good way to do the summon 3. Would a Deity even respond to such a summon in the first place?
I think that the most obvious way for a cleric to achieve this is via a Gate, but you could just as easily have a story-based ritual that the cleric needs to complete.
As to whether the deity would respond? That's up to you, as the DM, to decide - for your campaign, based upon the actions of that cleric, the specific bad guys, the motives of the deity etc. Maybe it would be more appropriate to send a servant/emissary instead?
Thanks for the response, the servant/emissary would be more appropriate ofcourse, but since they find out who is doing the ritual to summon Orcus when running into Larloch in a crypt and getting attact instantly by members of the cult of Orcus, it has to go on the fly.
But i guess since a Gate is an action which can be completed while the rest of the party are fighting the cult members i will go that way. Only problem i see is that the discription of a gate is stating: Deities and other planar rulers can prevent portals created by this spell from opening in their presence or anywhere within their domains. So maybe i have to use an artefact that opens a gate to her domain.
One of the most important things to remember when using Deities in your game is that they are not limited by the standard spells, with regards to what they can or cannot do (note - Adventurer's League adventures will be different).
Especially Mystra, being the deity with domain over magic, you can really use your imagination as much as you want.
If it was me running the plot, I wouldn't worry myself about HOW the cleric is going to contact Mystra - you run the risk of scripting the player's actions for them there.
Just make sure you are happy with what Mystra's response will be, to being contacted by the cleric. I mean, even if a lower level spell is used to make contact, you can just go from there.
If you decide that you want to have an epic battle scenario, where the players are defending a summoning from waves of monsters, then go with that - what spell is used doesn't matter so much, once the deity takes over. If you want the deity to turn up, consider using an avatar of the deity (a magical projection) which you can give whatever stats you like.
In my scenario Larloch the Lich is way to powerful for the party. The only thing he really fears is Mystra. So what i was considering was that the other party members fight the cult of Orcus members. The Cleric contacts or summon Mystra, she appears in an avatar form and Mystra can stop Larloch from resurrecting Orcus.
Since he fears her, i do not think about a big epic battle, just appearing and stopping the ritual should Larloch think twice and retreat.
I get your point about scripting player's actions. I let the player decide how he does that.
I am working on a quest where a Cleric of Mystra wants to stop Larloch the Lich from resurrecting Orcus.
Larloch would not battle the servants of the goddess of magic, Mystra, whom he called "the Lady", saying that "No matter how powerful one becomes, there are always those who are stronger."
The party wants to stop the ritual and when the rest of the group do battle with members of the cult of Orcus, i am thinking on ways how the Cleric could summon Mystra to stop Larloch.
Questions i have is:
1. Would it be possible to have most of the party fighting and let the cleric do the summon in the background.
2. What would be a good way to do the summon
3. Would a Deity even respond to such a summon in the first place?
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D&D Beyond FoundersI think that the most obvious way for a cleric to achieve this is via a Gate, but you could just as easily have a story-based ritual that the cleric needs to complete.
As to whether the deity would respond? That's up to you, as the DM, to decide - for your campaign, based upon the actions of that cleric, the specific bad guys, the motives of the deity etc. Maybe it would be more appropriate to send a servant/emissary instead?
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Thanks for the response, the servant/emissary would be more appropriate ofcourse, but since they find out who is doing the ritual to summon Orcus when running into Larloch in a crypt and getting attact instantly by members of the cult of Orcus, it has to go on the fly.
But i guess since a Gate is an action which can be completed while the rest of the party are fighting the cult members i will go that way. Only problem i see is that the discription of a gate is stating: Deities and other planar rulers can prevent portals created by this spell from opening in their presence or anywhere within their domains. So maybe i have to use an artefact that opens a gate to her domain.
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View User Profile
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View Posts
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D&D Beyond FoundersOne of the most important things to remember when using Deities in your game is that they are not limited by the standard spells, with regards to what they can or cannot do (note - Adventurer's League adventures will be different).
Especially Mystra, being the deity with domain over magic, you can really use your imagination as much as you want.
If it was me running the plot, I wouldn't worry myself about HOW the cleric is going to contact Mystra - you run the risk of scripting the player's actions for them there.
Just make sure you are happy with what Mystra's response will be, to being contacted by the cleric. I mean, even if a lower level spell is used to make contact, you can just go from there.
If you decide that you want to have an epic battle scenario, where the players are defending a summoning from waves of monsters, then go with that - what spell is used doesn't matter so much, once the deity takes over. If you want the deity to turn up, consider using an avatar of the deity (a magical projection) which you can give whatever stats you like.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Great info thanks!
In my scenario Larloch the Lich is way to powerful for the party. The only thing he really fears is Mystra. So what i was considering was that the other party members fight the cult of Orcus members. The Cleric contacts or summon Mystra, she appears in an avatar form and Mystra can stop Larloch from resurrecting Orcus.
Since he fears her, i do not think about a big epic battle, just appearing and stopping the ritual should Larloch think twice and retreat.
I get your point about scripting player's actions. I let the player decide how he does that.
Don't Clerics have Divine Intervention? Have the Cleric use that, with special artifacts/holy relics to increase the chance of the deity hearing.
woops...just realized this was almost a year old. nevermind :D