So the wizard PC in my campaign has decided to go for mystic theurge and just picked up a level of cleric (Wee Jas). I ran a little side adventure for him to add his first cleric level.
This of course sets up an interesting conflict for him with the PCs later in the game. But I tried to address that too.
Because the problem is that as a low level priest of Wee Jas he must obey his superiors without question. BUT I need him to not just do what Embril and Ike say, and I want to help him lead the "underground" movement so to speak.
So I thought about what an "underground" movement might be under those circumstances...and that led me to an idea. A lich!
When the PC took a level of cleric, he went to the cathedral and met with Calmus Vel. Embril and Ike were too busy.
Ordinarily, a new cleric would have to undergo years of strict academic tranining. But the order certainly wants to encourage wizard converts, given Wee Jas' domains and portfolio (and I cant justify requring a PC to study for 8 years or whatever just to get a level of cleric :) ). So I created the "Test of the Ancestors" which involves the PC spending the night in the crypts below the cathedral (foolishly omitted from the map of the cathedral and also probably a better place for the priests to hole up in the later chapters, but I digress). In any event, there he is confronted by the ancestors and lots of undead and questioned and tested. He has many Will saves to make to learn magic, death, law and the fear of death and its place in the scheme of things. In the end, if he survives all his will saves, he gains the cleric level. He must then report back to the temple in one cycle of the moon to learn his duties to the cathedral.
At the end of the test of the Ancestors, the PC (Arden) was approached by Sarsis--a female lich Wiz4/Clr4/MysticTheurge6. She told Arden that he has been accepted by the goddess and that she (Sarsis) is to be his patron. She gave him a gift. She told him that she sees that the goddess has a plan for him, but the future is unclear.
Now, he has an authority to turn to when Embril or Ike tell him to do something he doesnt want to do. And an aide to help him learn that Embril may be straying from teh will of the goddess.
Our first issue was addressing what Wee Jas's stance is on the missing townsfolk. Obviously, they oppose the PCs as detailed in HC for reasons detailed therein. But there is another dogmatic reason I came up with. Wee Jas cares about magic. To her, and her followers, things either involved magic or they do not. If they do not involve magic, they are mundane. Her priests do not concern themselves with mundane problems. The disappearnce of the townsfolk, while tragic, is a mundane concern and not of concern to the priests. They will certainly pray for hte repose of the souls of any lost citizens should they meet their end as a result of their kidnapping, for Wee Jas is the protector of the soul. But "mundane matters" such as kidnappings and other law enforcement are not the direct concern of the goddess.
Clark
This of course sets up an interesting conflict for him with the PCs later in the game. But I tried to address that too.
Because the problem is that as a low level priest of Wee Jas he must obey his superiors without question. BUT I need him to not just do what Embril and Ike say, and I want to help him lead the "underground" movement so to speak.
Interesting.
We actually a 4th level Cleric of Wee Jas in the party.Most of the party hails from Cauldron, but we opted to make Niokolai (the cleric) hail from a large city nearby, and he was assigned to monitor the goings-on of the Cauldron branch of the Temple.
This worked well right away, but is REALLY beginning to pay off in spades (we're beginning "Flood Season" now) as the Wee Jas temple effectivly blows off the Flood Festival. This means the PC's are forced to ally wiht the Jenya and the Cuthbert-ites (the party and the church have been surprisingly neutral to each other up until now.)
Nikolai actually offered to use one of the wands in the ceremony, if needed! (I tink the flooding of the city is a secondary motivation: he primarily wants to show up the Caldron priests!!)
And, some (Semi-"In Character") notes from Party Members:
Something that I've been thinking about, if the priests of Wee Jas aren't going to be participating in the Flood Season ritual then what will they be doing?
Think about it: everyone in town will be focusing on the festival. All of the other churches (that we know of) will be participating. The town guard are useless. If I were up to no good, as I believe the Wee Jas temple is (sorry Chris), now would be a time I might choose to pull something. I'd like to know what it might be. Is there anyone else among us who shares this opinion?
I don't know what shape I'll be in when we return from our upcoming jaunt outside of the Cauldron. However, assuming I make it back alive, I'd really like to find out what's going on inside that temple. I know that it's dangerous and likely protected by all sorts of wards and other shenanigans. If Chris's character could provide us with any reasonable intelligence on the defenses and layout of the temple I'm seriously suggesting that we take a look in there.
I realise that in addition to the potential threats from within the building, there are potential threats within the party itself. Chris, I know that this will challenge your loyalty to your faith. John, I'd prefer not to cross your character either.
Generally speaking, Farwall has been content to live on the sidelines and go unnoticed his entire life. He had never found a home or a purpose until he came to the Lantern Street Orphanage. He doesn't believe in anything other than no one should be subjected to having to live the life of day to day terror and uncertainty that he had to when he was young living on the streets. It would seem that someone feels that the entire population of Cauldron should live in such fear and terror and Farwall does not want to go back.
Farwall is starting to feel more motivated than ever before to act on behalf of the preservation of the Cauldron. We have currently suffered plagues of child kidnappings, murders, larceny, and now we're squaring off against the elements themselves. Farwall believes that there is a singular evil cooridnating all of these occurances. He does not fully trust any official of the town or of any of its churches. Which brings us back to the aforementioned suspicions of the Wee Jas temple.
The church of Wee Jas apparently has something to gain by the rising waters of the Cauldron in addition to whatever happenstance fatalities the floods may cause. Why do they want/need the waters to rise?
Something stinks worse than death itself here and it's coming from the Wee Jas temple...
And the response from Nikolai?
I concur that my colleaugues in the Cauldron branch of the church of Wee Jas may have other ambitions than serving the most revered Goddess. I would be remiss in my clerical duties if I was not to investigate their current actions further. However I would caution not to condemn them unless evidence against them is uncovered.
Furthermore Wee Jas does not always care for mortal matters. While I can sympathize with some of your concerns for the residents of Cauldron, demanding that she compensate them for a poor choice in where to settle is naive, and ultimately futile.
While some may see this as an abandonment from the gods, instead look to it as a test. Wee Jas helps those who prove themselves worthy. It may be that Cauldron has grown lazy and complacent. Strengthen your hearts and we may yet prove worthy of divine favor. The gods do not abandon us, rather mortals abandon the gods.
We face a great challenge. I look forward to it. We go to face a threat that challenges both our skills and our faith. If we stay true to the Goddess then victory will be ours. She has shown us what we must do, but the action must be ours. Constantly proving ourselves is the only way to her blessing.
The current church of Wee Jas in Cauldron leaves me with questions. I am not sure if they walk in Wee Jas' shadow. They may, but so far the shadows surrounding them are too deep for me to pierce. After the immediate threat of the rising waters is conquered I suggest we begin a thorough investigation. However once again I *strongly* warn that conclusions drawn without evidence are worthless, and will be dealt with accordingly.
-Nikolai Kiovu