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Folks, I as the DM have a problem with a possible misunderstanding of the storyboard of Spire of Long Shadows and any forthcoming modules. It is regarding the AoW prophecy detailing that the re-unification of the tri-partitite spirit will one of the two last events heralding the coming of Kyuss.
The PCs are about to learn during the visions of SoLS that this might happen. Later in the path they will met Balakardes ghost and - if they are clever - they will count one and one together and prevent his ghost to be one again though successfully stop the course of events towards the AoW!
Am I misinterpreting something or will a clever group (which my definitly is) have a chance to save the day at an relativly early stage of the path?
The concept of the prophecy is not that there are a series of events necessary to summon Kyuss, but rather there are a series of events that will occur of their own accord around the time that Kyuss is summoned. Its a tricky thing, most certainly because the PCs CAN prevent on of these things from happening. Preventing the re-unification of Balakarde is not an event that will help or hurt the cult of Kyuss, but it would make the prophecy less cool. Its an interesting problem, but I don't have a solution.
When I ran it, Manzorian simply dismissed the tripartite spirit prophecy as having to do with the Ebon Triad.
Same happened with my group. Balakarde is far down the chute on the AP; and while I wouldn't assume your players would forget the prophecy about a "tripartite spirit" that might very well--and is--be Balakarde, it comes back to the understanding of the prophecy. It is not a condition for Kyuss' return, but more like a symptom. If the players refuse to reunite Balakarde, so be it. But it won't keep Kyuss from his day in Alhaster.
I'm wondering if my players will go all wide-eyed when they find that Balakarde is a tripartite fragmented spirit, realizing that the Ebon Triad is not the one of prophecy. Or whether they will figure it out or not, altogether...