Is there a rule somewhere about what or who can actually fill these positions? I am only asking because my players want to install a Mindless giant scorpion animal companion as the Royal assassin. Since it has the highest str score of the party.
Most of the time I am willing to give the players free reign on what they want to do, but this is a MINDLESS BUG.
I would make a house rule that sense it can not logically function in this position it is not allowed. I see the council positions like department heads in a business.
My party floated the idea of using the Cavaliers tiger mount to fill a position and I said that was not allowed. The councilors have to be able to make decisions and know the difference between right and wrong.
No hard and fast rule, but common sense says the scorpion can't fulfill the requirements of the position. You're right; it's a mindless bug. It can't stalk, use tactics, or plan. It's no more an assassin than a guard dog would be.
Well... The function of a royal assassin could very well be that of a headsman or executioner. Meaning it would kill criminals convicted to death in a very public fashion,. That intimidates people to be on their best behavior so they DON'T end up in that situation.
That could actually work. Criminals sentenced to death are "Thrown in the scorpion pit" to die by stinging, making his death painful and sending a clear message: Do not break the law or it will be YOU in there.
That being said, I'd slap a evil on their alignment and of their kingdom. Execution is generally carried out by a swift death, as painless as it can be (hanging should break your neck before you choke, decapitation, etc.). Throwing someone on a giant scorpion, to feel the poison running through his system while being hacked apart looks pretty evil to me. In fact I may steal that for some villain.
|
Well... The function of a royal assassin could very well be that of a headsman or executioner. Meaning it would kill criminals convicted to death in a very public fashion,. That intimidates people to be on their best behavior so they DON'T end up in that situation.
That could actually work. Criminals sentenced to death are "Thrown in the scorpion pit" to die by stinging, making his death painful and sending a clear message: Do not break the law or it will be YOU in there.
That being said, I'd slap a evil on their alignment and of their kingdom. Execution is generally carried out by a swift death, as painless as it can be (hanging should break your neck before you choke, decapitation, etc.). Throwing someone on a giant scorpion, to feel the poison running through his system while being hacked apart looks pretty evil to me. In fact I may steal that for some villain.
Ditto Rune!
Neutral would do it. :D
You could also give it a headband of intelligence with ranks in "scare the bejeesus outta people" and knowledge: "a slow and painful death - no, slower than that...and more painful".
You'd need some way of communicating with it.
I like it. :)
You can buy a warhorse and install it as the royal assassin and have it kick people to death.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Solution:
Quest: Aaaaaaah! Giant Scorpion!
Source: Wanted Poster
Task: There is a ferocious Giant Scorpion in the Giant Scorpion Pit in the centre of town! His name is Giant Scorpion and he's been stinging and eating rebels, malcontents, and ne'er-do-wells for over a month! With new citizens flowing into the Greenbelt the Giant Scorpion needs to be slain before it acquires a taste for citizens proposing constructive reforms!
Completion: Kill the Giant Scorpion and display the body for everyone to see.
Reward: The kingdom approves a reward of 1200gp to the heroes who slay the Giant Scorpion.
I, for one, welcome our new arachnid overlords!
|
+1 to the scorpion :)
My group
They've been discussing handing the position over to Zzamas, the phase spider they saved in Part 3, on the logic that nothing could possibly be scarier than an assassin that can "spring-attack" from the Ethereal Plane at any time.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I guess the answer lies in how you see the role of a Royal Assassin. If it’s only function is to execute people then I guess any captured deadly creature can act in this role. Personally I see the Royal Assassin as giving the council and ruler advice on who can or should be assassinated. I see him in a similar role to the CIA in the USA. Sometimes targets are terrorists and in the minds of the US can and should be assassinated. The CIA gives advice to the president and the president makes the decision. In my campaign captured enemies were given to the royal assassin to extract information. And the Royal Assassin decided if the captured enemy should be released, imprisoned, tortured, and/or executed. The royal assassin gave advice if an enemy city should be penetrated and if the assassination of a target would be worth the risk and what the result would be.
|
+1 to Biobeast.
Also note the headsman (executioner) was responsible for interpreting warrants and traveling where needed in the kingdom to execute the warrants while the locals held the guilty. I just don't see a mindless bug being able to handle this, much less the reaction of the people who may not be bloodthirsty enough to appreciate a scorpion killing people.
