They're pretty separate... shackleborn is a result of the demodand rapings from 300 years ago, and that's pretty different all told.
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They're pretty separate... shackleborn is a result of the demodand rapings from 300 years ago, and that's pretty different all told.
You're right. But there is a faint connection / similarity in that both have some power to free Adimarchus. The shackleborn in a very limited manner (get enough of them together and sacrifice them to open the gate to Carceri) and the Smoking Eye more directly (being able to smash the cage).
But in this alternate ending that may be enough of a similarity. Besides, the more characters who can potentially have an impact on the ending the better.
Have you guys given any thought to how you're actually going to play out the 'Dreamplane' (maybe 'Dreadplane' would be a more appropriate name) episodes?
Though I like the idea of different challenges behind different doors, I wonder how many doors would keep things interesting. I'm afraid nine might be too much. Unless you can come up with nine awesome challenges.
If anyone has any suggestions, please post them. I've been working on my own ideas, but they're not concrete enough yet to post. I'll let you know when I get there ...
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Have you guys given any thought to how you're actually going to play out the 'Dreamplane' (maybe 'Dreadplane' would be a more appropriate name) episodes?Though I like the idea of different challenges behind different doors, I wonder how many doors would keep things interesting. I'm afraid nine might be too much. Unless you can come up with nine awesome challenges.
If anyone has any suggestions, please post them. I've been working on my own ideas, but they're not concrete enough yet to post. I'll let you know when I get there ...
I believe your concerns are valid. I posted a while ago the suggestion that we need to brainstorm and share ideas as to actual what actual creatures/monsters the DM could possibly use in these encounters. What makes sense?
Dreamplane or dreadplane both work - but it's in the creature's mind; not an other-worldly enviornement like an outer-plane.
Personally I see it as Id vs Ego. :0)
Robert
Robert
Hi folks, I just wanted to say you'all were doing a really good job of bridging some of the gaps of the weaker plot-points in the arc of the Adventure Path. I know I really enjoyed reading the adventure path as a whole and as the individual parts, but toward the end, the path starts to worry me.
Foundation of Flame is a great build up of horrific crisis and damage control over the first tremors of apocalypse and Thirteen Cages seems like a flat out end-game frantic rush to a spectacular climax! I can rather expect my PCs to go, "Okay, cool, we won. Yay us!"
I have trouble imagining them running off to the Shatterhorn to squash what's left of the cowering cultists, or hunting down Ardimarchus's prison. And the return of Vhalantruu as a mad fever-dream fiend kind of seems like a forced plot device to get them thinking about Adimarchus again.
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Sorry, I guess this was a rather long winded way of thanking you folks for inspiring me to try and find ways to introduce Adimarchus as a theme/foreshadowing earlier in the adventure path.
And now, I'll try and contribute, with a question at least. I know one highlight of the Path for me is the environment of Occupitus. The Abyssal plane has a great feel and vibe to me (Maybe because I love the Abyss). Since it is arguable that the entire plane is a part of Adimarchus's dreams, or at least influenced by it, I've been considering using the communal idea of Adimarchus's Nightmare Realm as a part of the Occupitus adventure. Maybe it could be one of the Tests of the Smoking Eye, "How good of an oracle are you, little mystics? Can you read the meaning of my dreams?" It would certainly introduce Adimarchus and his madness more directly by midgame at least. It would give him a face, and give the PCs some time to think about what went wrong with his existance well before the rush to confront him.
Adimarchus was cast from the heavens for a crime of ambition - perhaps when he was forced from his celesteral home he left behind his love and his 'heart'. This love could easily be one of the two angels found in SCAP - Nidrama or Celeste.
Another thought I had on the heart he may have left behind... what if it wasn't ambition that caused him to fall... what if "Love" itself was why Adimarchus was cast from the Heavens? What if Adimarchus's fell because his "Heart" beat for the wrong person-or because it beat for someone at all! Mayhap the angels are not to hold anyone in their hearts higher than the Powers that create and guide them, or the flock they are to watch as a whole. Love for any one person is considered a betrayal of purpose and the holy source. It makes his loss all the more tragic and his anger toward his former comrades all the more understandable if it "Love," (arguably an ideal of Good,) was why they cast him away. And it creates an even stronger reason for him to fall for and sacrifice himself for Arthux... not just an abstract desire for redemption, but the hope and dispair of love again. And after sacrificing for him/her only to find himself betrayed again... that would certainly justify him breaking down into madness.
What could be even more stirring, crushing, and dramatic would be if not Nidrama or Celeste, but Arthux the "paladin" was also the forbidden love that caused him to fall, drove him to rail against the Heavens, and sent the "paladin" back onto his doorstop to "battle the enemy of her holy patrons." It also means Grazz't planned this all the way out from the very beginning. Grazz't schemed to draw a powerful angel away from the Heavens' fold, used him as a weapon against the celestials, and once he served his purpose of crippling the forces of light and stealing a chunk of the Heavens, Grazz't disposed of him before he became too strong a threat.
And... those are my thoughts for the moment. A way to bring romance back into the equation, and a reason for the PCs to want to save/redeem someone whose original crime was being able to fall in love.
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Very good idea about love Drakli - I kinda like the idea of celestials not being allowed to put another love higher than their devotion to the powers they serve...
And I think forshadowing Adimarchus more during Smoking Eye is a good idea, I plan to do so in some ways myself, I was planning to have the PCs bombarded by dreams - fragments of Adimarchus life past and present, and general madness. Also part of the reason demons consider the layer haunted.
I've been working on the dreams the PCs start having once they passed the test of the smoking eye. As a courtesy to you guys I wrote them in English, so you can share the fruit of my labour and use what you can. The dreams tell the story of Adimarchus and how he came to fall, based on my background story which I posted earlier in thsi thread. To avoid a long post, I'll cut it up in pieces.
Once the PC receives the sign of the smoking eye, he will be imbued with a part of Adimarchus. If the PC is good in alignment, he will ‘inherit’ Adimarchus’ good side, if he’s evil, he’ll be filled with the dark side. Only someone who is imbued with a part of Adimarchus, can release the fallen angel from his prison, for better or worse …
A character who has received the sign of the smoking eye, will start having dreams of Adimarchus. These dreams are flashbacks of key moments in Adimarchus’ life. Staying true to my background story of the angel who fell because he was too proud to serve men, the dream sequences will be the following:
1 Idyllic garden scene, in a marble temple-like structure is a beautiful and impressive-looking angel (Adimarchus). He walks with grace and has a look of wisdom in his eyes. At his side is a gorgeous female angel (whom the PCs might recognize as Nidrama). The two angels are clearly a couple. A trumpet archon arrives form the sky, blowing his horn and shouting out a divine message.
“As the creatures that walk the earth worship the gods, so too do they give those gods the power to be! While they rule the earth, they look up to our fathers in heaven with true faith. In our fathers they recognize their creators, and as such they are the true children of the gods above. And as true fathers our gods give their children everything they need. Chauntea gives them food, Lathander gives them light and warmth. Selûne watches over them in the night and Tymora makes them smile. Our own three fathers, Torm, Tyr and Ilmater keep them safe from harm and ease their pain. As such they serve mankind as much as mankind serves them. Let it be known that our fathers require the same servitude of us, to guard over the lives and souls of their true followers and children!”
The graceful angel has a look of puzzlement on his face that changes to determination:
”So mankind has finally grown over our heads. Is the realm of men to be lifted from the mud to be placed above the delight of heaven? While they sweat and slave away in a shell that crumbles down around the soul, they shall sit in a holy throne and look down on us, the true defenders of our fathers’ faiths. So are we to worship them then instead of our fathers above? I think not.”
Nidrama replies:
”If such is the will of our fathers, so be it. True faith lies in doing as they bid us to do.”
Adimarchus:
”True faith lies in worshipping our fathers, and not some wretch in a mortal coil. I will mend this if I can.”
2 Within a great temple. Adimarchus is pacing to and fro. Another beautiful female angel walks in (Layah). She speaks:
”So it is decided! And so it shall be done! And the glory of the angels shall fade away under the dirt of the earth that man walks upon. So too the glory of heaven shall pass as man becomes lord of all, including our fathers.”
Adimarchus: ”So it is decided indeed.”
Layah: “So shall we cut off our own wings and offer them to our new masters? Shall we lay down our immortality to please those who command us now? So we might not outlive them, unless we do so to grovel at their feet and obey their every whim!”
Adimarchus: “This is not what our fathers command.”
Layah: “Is it not? Who is to say how our new masters will treat us? They are not known for their gentle ways.”
Adimarchus: “Your words ring true, hard as they may be.”
Layah: “And truer they will feel when our new masters put their foot on our necks and push us in the dust of their sins.”
Adimarchus: “Then we shall plead to our heavenly fathers and make them see the error of their ways.”
3 In front of a great, beautiful marble temple. A host of angels has gathered on the square in front of the temple. Adimarchus is on the steps; looking at the crowd. Layah is among the angels in the first row.
Layah appeals to Adimarchus, loud enough so all can hear her:
”Lucky we thought ourselves, in this paradise of heaven, second only to the gods themselves. No one compared to us and our state of happiness. Until word came from the golden gates, word that the highness that was bestowed to us, was to be taken away.
My desperate companions, great was my surprise, as must have been yours. That we should be slaves to mere mortals! That we should shake and shiver before their rule!
Help me. Help me mourn our fate. Because mourning is all we have left. That at least cannot be taken from us. For we all have to lay down our happiness. We all have to bow our heads to one who is lesser. No longer will our lights shine. We will draw back into the shadows and forever mourn our fate.
For my brethren, my sisters, I cannot help but wonder what we did wrong to be set aside like this? What did we do wrong to be wronged like this? Why should we worship those ants crawling in the mud and dust when all we want to do is worship our true fathers? Our gods. Can … indeed … should such a wrong be suffered? We only want what is rightfully ours.
Shall we then ask the best of us, to speak on our behalf and right this wrong? (Crowd: YES!) Shall we ask Adimarchus to plea to our fathers and make them see the error of their ways? (Crowd: YES!)
My lord Adimarchus, we beseech you to help us, to simply help us get what we deserve. Will you fight for us?”
The host of angels cheers in anticipation.
Adimarchus replies, a solemn look in his eyes:
My brethren, my sisters. All the gods want from us is right. I know no other right than what they demand. If it pleases them to place men above you and me, then that is right. And we should do as they please. We have never forsaken our duty, and we shall not do so now.
Oh my friends, how I wish that they will forgive you your arrogance! For we should never fight the will of the gods.”
Layah: “No, my lord. Not fight! But can we not plead to them? Can you not be the voice that speaks for all of us? Can you not be the voice that speaks our malcontent? Can you not ask our Lords of Order to restore order as it was and should be?
Adimarchus: Then you would have me be the one to right a wrong with another wrong? To go against the will of our fathers, even if it is only in words?”
Layah: “There is no other way.”
Adimarchus: “Then, as you, my brothers and sisters, are all my witnesses, I take this burden upon my shoulders because there is no other way.”
4 Adimarchus is walking on a stairs in the clouds. Suddenly he is faced by Nidrama. The angel bids him to stop.
Nidrama: ”What fate has befallen you that you should change your loyalty? Celestia burns with turmoil and treason. And you, the most magnificent star of all, fuel this fire.”
Adimarchus: ”Many are those who think like me. I must speak to our lords and make them change their minds.”
Nidrama: ”Their minds are made up already. You have heard their command and their will be done. You shall not go further. But they want to give you this one chance to redeem yourself. Go back to your followers and convince them to do as their lords bid.”
Adimarchus: “I will go back, but it will not be to make my companions beg for forgiveness. Our lords, wise and good as they may be, have started this. I only wish to speak with them and now they even refuse to see me. How can they expect me not to see this through to the end?”
Nidrama: “I beg of you, please reconsider. If you once loved me, please reconsider.”
Adimarchus: “You claim to know what love is? Yet you do not stand by me when things get rough? You desert me at the first sign of trouble? I never loved you. Not truly. Not as I love the one who supports me in these hard times. For it is then that true love shows its face.”
Adimarchus turns around proudly, leaving behind a heart-broken Nidrama.
5 Scene of battle. Two great armies of angels clash into each other. As arrows fly and swords cleave, angels fall on both side. At the heart of his army, Adimarchus is fighting like an unstoppable hurricane. His chariot charges forward, being pulled by a lion and a dragon. None of his adversaries can resist his fury. His flaming blade drips with blood.
The air above the battlefield is thick with the smell of death. Both armies seem to be taking heavy losses. And Adimarchus’ troops are gaining ground.
Suddenly the heavens shake violently and the fighting pauses. Everyone looks up in surprise. For a few seconds nothing happens. Then fire rains from the skies and the ground under the false angels’ feet gives way. The traitors plummet down in despair, leaving their adversaries balancing on the verge of what was once a beautiful pasture in Celestia. Once they have found their balance, the good angels turn away to avoid the horror of the fall.
6 Occipitus in the Abyss. The sky breaks open and big chunks of stone and ground fall down. The ground shakes and hisses violently wherever the debris falls, like skin hit by acid.
Though debris is not the only thing plummeting from the sky. Broken bodies of angels hit the ground, creating cancerous ulcers wherever the touch the surface. Other angels are still alive. They’re trying to fly through the rain of debris. Most cannot avoid getting hit and some do not survive these collisions. Others are knocked around and cannot maintain their flight. They crash into the ground and do not get up again.
Still, some of the angels make it to the ground alive. They scream in pain and horror as their flesh tears and their bodies transform into a demonic travesty of what they once were.
One of the survivors is Adimarchus. He has turned into an ebony-skinned version of his former self. Four shadowy tentacles now protrude from his back, each one ending in a hungry, screaming maw. His right eye burns with a smoking flame.
Next to Adimarchus another survivor appears. It is a dark skinned version of Layah. Despite her demonic transformation, she still looks very attractive. She has an evil grin on her face.
7 Adimarchus is standing in the middle of Occipitus. The demon prince seems to burn with power. He raises his hands and the ground trembles. Demonic angels behind him step back in fear. Only one of them holds her ground: Layah.
Adimarchus notices how he instills his subjects with fear and throws back his head in demonic laughter. Then he focuses his gaze on the ground in front of him. Amid the Celestial rubble are numerous rotting corpses of dead angels. With a wave of his hand Adimarchus sets one of the rotting heads aflame, burning away the rest of the body and flesh until nothing but a burning skull remains.
Then the demon prince spreads his arms and blows a storming wind from his mouth. Suddenly the skull starts growing in size, getting bigger and bigger until it is as huge as a mountain. Adimarchus closes his eyes and lifts up into the air, levitating over the giant skull. Then he opens his right eye. The smoking flame flashes and shoots forth a ray of fire that penetrates the eye socket of the skull.
The eye starts burning and small blobs of fire leak into the air, slowly filling the sky above Occipitus with a blanket of smoking fire. The entire landscape now bathes in a flickering red light.
8 In the desolate landscape of the Abyss two large armies face each other. On one side the ranks are made up of warped and malformed angels. At the center is Adimarchus in his chariot, which is now pulled by a demonic lion and dragon. The right flank is gathered behind Layah, who is dressed in an elegant black plate. Despite the armor she still moves with grace.
On the other side are hordes of demons. They scream in anticipation. Their eyes gleam with bloodlust. At the head of the army is a surprisingly handsome man with a shiny black skin and green, glowing eyes (Graz’zt). His ears are pointed and two slim yellow fangs stick out from under his upper lip. The hands that holds his terrible greatsword have six fingers.
As the two armies clash into one another, a howl of terror fills the sky. With insatiable rage the demons and fallen angels fall on each other, apparently with no fear for their own lives. Soon the battlefield is soaked with blood, but none of the armies wants to give way.
All of a sudden of flight of winged demons shoots down on Layah and sweep her away before she can jump aside. The beauty struggles to get free, but the demons' claws hold her too tightly.
Adimarchus does not notice the abduction and continues laying waste to the demons around him.
9 The army of fallen angels is resting in its camp. Demonic angels are seated around small campfires, tending their wounds or sharpening their weapons. Suddenly a great cry of anger throws them off. The sound originates from a royal tent adorned with several banners of the smoking eye.
One of the guard steps inside hesitantly. A few moments later he comes out again, despair staring from his eyes: “The lord Adimarchus”, he stumbles, “our lord, he’s gone!”
As the fallen angels start to panic, an arrow suddenly flies through the air, catching the startled guard in the throat. Next a host of demons falls upon the surprised angels …
10 Adimarchus is walking alone in a misty swamp. He approaches a huge dark rock rising out of the murk, topped by a strange white tower. Horrifying howls fill the air and dozens of iron cages hang from the outside of the structure.
Adimarchus walks up to the front doors, which open when he is standing in front of them. The prince of Occipitus steps into the central chamber and looks up. High above him hangs a cage from a thick iron chain. On the floor of the cage lies Layah. She stirs as her lover walks into the room and turns her head to answer his gaze.
Suddenly Adimarchus hears a crackling voice to his left: “Welcome to Skullrot, Lord of the Smoking Eye.” Out of the darkness steps a terrifying menace with skeletal features covered by patches of leathery skin (Dark Myrakul). His eyes gleam with a deadly red glare. The bones springing from his back may once have supported wings. The creature wields a great scythe.
Dark Myrakul: “I was told you were coming. It took you long enough to get here, but then again, this place is hard to find.”
Adimarchus: “I demand you set her free, or I shall slay you where you stand!”
Dark Myrakul grins widely. “Then you will never release her from her prison. For only I can let her go. And don’t worry, I will, for the right price.”
Adimarchus looks up at Layah, who now appears to him as the Celestial angel she once was. He sees a tear drip from her eyes and fall down, right into his outstretched hand hand. “Then name your price, wretch!”
”What can you give me?”
”I have left everything behind, I no longer have a place to call home, and so I have nothing to offer you … except for my own existence.”
”Then that shall be the price. If you are willing to take her place, I will let her go.”
”I agree.”
”Then so be it”, Dark Myrakul replies. With a wave of his scythe Adimarchus and Layah trade places.
Layah, still in her angelic form, crawls to her feet, looks up at Adimarchus in the cage and whispers: “Thank you … thank you, you fool. Now you have failed at being a prince in hell as well as in heaven. My father will be so pleased.” She laughs coldly. “It has been too long since I’ve been my own gorgeous self”, she sighs. Then she transforms into an ebony-skinned fiend, quite similar to a succubus. She has six fingers on each hand. Above her Adimarchus screams with madness.
Then she points at Dark Myrakul: “Did I mention that the warden of this place is an excellent torturer? Anyway, you will have eternity to find out. The lichfiend next to her simply grins …
Very good MrVergee.
As I've mentioned earlier, I also have put together some dreams that I have linked directly to a 'trait' (ie fear) that combined sent Adimarchus eventually insane.
In my version of the nightmare realm the players must enter each dream and stop the 'trait' from occuring. For example in Dream 8 Adimarchus traitorous general flies from the battlefield to tell him of Anthux's abduction.
The players need to revisit the dream and stop this general from decieving the fallen angel. When he is confronted, this 'general' will turn into a 'Nightmare Creature' that the party must defeat. If the party fail to recognise the act they must stop and fail to do so they are attacked by a much more powerful Nightmare.
Here is the first of my dreams which I began giving one per SCAP Chapter. I have made the first dream more characer specific, unlike the remainder of the dreams -
Haunted Dream One
The demons come to you again this night. Demons of your childhood, demons of your past, demons of your conscience. It is almost the same nightmare you have always endured every sleepless night of your life…
You are in your childhood home again on the night when you lost your family. You see the horrific image of your mother screaming as she tears her hair from her head and her skin from her face. You see your father frantically try to restrain her, shake her to wake her from the madness while you and your brothers and sisters weep in fear and confusion. You scream out a warning to your dad to protect him from the sickening blow that you have witnessed a thousand times. Your warning is once again in vain as you watch your crazed mother grab a water jug and knock your father to the floor.
The image quickly shifts and you now lay hiding beneath your little bed trying not to make a sound. You peek out from under it and see your older brother lying dead on the floor staring at you.
Suddenly smoke pours into the room and fire races across the ceiling. A hand reaches under the bed to save you and you look up to see a beautiful angel calmly smiling down upon you amidst the smoke and hellish glow of the burning room.
You reach out to take his hand but the smoke begins to engulf you, burning your lungs and causing yours eyes to water. You feel yourself being swept up from the floor, through the window and into the cool night air. Without opening your eyes you know that the angel has rescued you but as you look you realize it is not an angel but a horrific demon that holds you in its grasp.
You scream in uncontrollable terror as the vile demon slowly opens its bloody maul and begins to feast ….
Haunted Dream Two
You stand surrounded by white winged angels within a pure white cathedral made of marble and ivory. Great stain glass windows welcome warm golden light into the chamber while a chorus of heaven fills the cathedral with beautiful song.
At the front of the church, a glittering diamond altar rests on a raised platform. Flanking the altar stands ten blue skinned angels wearing golden robes. Each angel’s attention and furrowed brow is directed at you.
Your attention is turned to the rafters and the circular opening in the rooftop above you. A bright golden light pours from the opening and a golden angel slowly drifts down to gently rest behind the diamond altar.
You don’t understand why but you know her name is Celeste, arch angel of the heavenly choir, but your heart breaks when you see her eyes filled with tears.
‘You have lost your way my beautiful child’ she whispered. ‘I had hoped with all my heart that you would turn away from the sins of ambition and pride ….’
Looking to first her left then her right she turns back to you, lowering her head in sadness, ‘You have been cast from heaven, never to return….’
‘NNNNnnnoooo!’
Your heart roars with unbearable pain, your soul screams in anguish and your mind descends into rage.
‘Kill me instead Haloen!’ You hear yourself weep, ‘If I am lost to heaven then heaven shall be lost to you all.’
And the blue skinned angels change into slobbering demons and swarm towards you to feast upon your soul….
Haunted Dream Three
You scream in agony as your soul is torn in two. The ritual complete, you stare down in pain at you chest and watch as a six fingered blackened hand rips from your chest clutching a white ball of light.
Holding it aloft Graz’zt, demon prince of the damned, marvels at your soul, as you stumble to your knees in pain.
‘What a price you are willing to pay’ you hear him laugh, ‘what hatred you must have to seek my aid’.
You attempt to speak but the pain is too much. Instead you just raise your gaze to glare at the demon lord in anger before rolling to the ground once again in agony.
‘Rest assured though my white winged friend’ Gyxaat sniggers, ‘my Northern Army is yours and my greatest general Occiptus to lead it…but first I have another gift to share’.
‘Occiptus’ you hear Graz’zt command, ‘Come to me’ and all around you is suddenly blanketed in smoke and flame burning your skin and eyes.
‘Yes my prince’ a voice bellows from high above you. You force yourself to look up from the ground to the colossal legs of demon that stands over you.
‘Here is the gift I promised you my servant’ Graz’zt continues and you see the demon lord holding up the torn piece of your soul.
You feel a loss greater than you thought you could ever imagine and you stare helplessly as Graz’ztt flies upward towards the chest of the demon.
‘The reward requires a sacrifice though Occiptus’ the black prince says as he reaches into the demons chests and tears forth a piece of its black soul before pushing your missing piece of soul into the chest to replace it.
Roaring in pain of his own Occiptus falls to the ground causing the floor to crack and break.
‘And as a special gift to you my angel’ Gyxxat laughs as he floats to the ground with the dark piece of Occiptus’ soul clutched in his six fingered grasp ‘you can take a piece of his soul as well’. And with that he pushes the dark orb into your chest while you vainly attempt to rise.
A new wave of agony spills over you as you feel your body begin to tear and change. From your back your wings transform into four writhing snakes which glare at you before biting your face and next over and over again……..
Haunted Dream Four
The landscape around you is beautiful - white cloud-like hills, a sparkling twilight lake, and a gold and ivory cathedral. A sweet gentle wind carries the song of heaven through the air. Looking upwards you see the sky above you is a heartbreaking blue, spotted with silver lined clouds.
Part of your heart swells with peace and joy, but another part feels increasingly sickened by your surrounds.
Suddenly the peace is broken.
A tangible wave of deafening noise strikes you, the echoes of an epic battle ringing loudly in your ears. You follow the noise and fly towards the edge of the cliff face and gaze down into valley below.
Two great armies fight below you with spectacular magic and with awesome might.
One army is breathtakingly beautiful. White winged angels sound mighty horns, balls of light dart above the battle firing rays of power, majestic hound headed soldiers wield great swords while beautiful blue skinned angles lay waste to their enemies with a wave of their hands.
The other army is as horrifically ugly as the first army is beautiful. Skeletal demons fight with flaming scythes and scorpion tails, huge boar-like demons barrel through their enemies ripping with bloody mauls, snake tailed women with six whirling weapons cut a path through the angel ranks while great horned demons strike out from above the battle with flaming whips and dark swords.
Standing at the rear of the demonic army is Occiptus - a creature of colossal proportions. The howling demons at his feet seem like rats compared to his epic size. Dark smoke and flame pour from the demonic generals eyes and four gigantic white feathery snake-like appendages writhe from his back as he roars in anger at the angel army before it.
As you watch, Occiptus holds one hand open, creating a massive black smoking ball of flame, and hurls it into the celestial army ranks, consuming hundreds of the screaming angels.
You mentally command your reserve forces to attack and complete the conquest.
Howls of horror echo down from high above the valley heralding the approach of thousands more demons. The new demons pour down either side of the valley walls, screaming with bloodlust, keen to taste victory.
Laughing with evil glee you watch as the angelic army valiantly fights on, only prolonging their inevitable destruction.
High in the sky you hear a single horn sound, a perfect note piercing the terror and calming the tide of panic. You turn your attention upwards and see the clouds part and a great column of light pour down onto the battlefield. Diving from the clouds and through the light, a golden angel flies downwards towards the conflict –Haloen.
As one the angelic army drops to their knees, oblivious to their demonic enemies. The demons stand confused and look upwards.
High above the golden angel slowly places a crystal trumpet to her lips.
You quickly take to the air, desperate to get to the golden angel before she can sound the horn and make the ultimate sacrifice, but you know you are already too late.
A note of sorrow softly sounds at first, then the note begins to escalate and an immense wave of light blasts outwards from the trumpet, completely consuming the golden angel and blasting the battlefield with terrifying holy power.
The ground itself violently shakes as the note and light continues, and the cloud-like ground behind you begins to tear and rip, quickly forming an expanding crack.
Occiptus roars in disbelief and pain before tumbling dead to the ground.
You watch helplessly as the crack turns into a chasm and the chunk of land where the battle has raged is torn away from the heavens.
The land suddenly drops and you feel yourself falling from heaven … falling into the depths of hell.
Haunted Dream Five
Lifting your head slowly from the soft floor you look down to see the white cloudlike ground change into a grey, sickly looking skin. Hairs begin to grow up wards out of the skin and you find the ground spongy and clammy to touch.
You rise to your feet and survey the landscape.
Thousands of bodies litter the ground about you. Hideous demons lie entangled with beautiful angels. But as you watch the skin-like ground begins to open up beneath the demon corpses and their vile bodies are sucked down before the ground once again closes up.
Around the angels large translucent blisters begin to form and totally encapsulate the celestials within sickly boils. These cysts form cords which snake down to join with the skin and begin to slowly suck the angels essence down.
You take to the sky on white wings and see the colossal form of Occiptus lying dead in the distance. Flying closer you see the skin fall away from the demonic general leaving only his great skull and ribs thrusting up from the ground.
In your head you hear the voice not for the first time. ‘We should claim this land and make it ours to command!’
‘No’ you hear yourself scream in response, ‘my place is in Heaven with my love, not in this vile place of evil.’
For a moment there is silence, and then in a voice dripping with bitter disappointment the voice responds ‘If you are too weak to claim the power that this land could give you, then reclaim your pitiful soul that was taken from you. It lies waiting in Occiptus skull and then leave this land forever!’
Suddenly there is hope.
Could this be true? Could you dare to hope such a thing was possible? Or is it another way for your Inner Demon to drive you insane?
Either way you had to know.
Flying through the dark sky you come to rest upon the lip of Occiptus’ great empty eye. Inside you could see a pure white light spilling across the chamber and, stepping forward, a small ball of light and dark hovering in the centre of the hollow skull.
You hesitantly step forward and then, every so tentatively reach out to grasp the light.
‘Ahhhh!’ Pain, incredible pain washes over you as you are suddenly immersed in an agonising column of black flame.
One of your eyes explodes and you scream louder and attempt to rip yourself from the flame. Your eye begin to burn and from your empty eye first one then another plasm of flame flies, circling the room before darting through Occiptus’ empty eye and towards the dark sky.
Finally you fall from the flame with smoke billowing from your missing eye.
You lie there weeping from the pain, from the torture, from all you have lost. Despair overwhelms you once again and you feel yourself slipping out of consciousness and further into madness.
From the dark recesses of your mind you hear the demon whisper –
‘Hail the ruler of Occiptus…’
Haunted Dream Six
You clutch the pitiful angel by his throat; watching his strength begin to falter and the spark of life begin to fade in his eyes. Demons encircle you and howl with bloodlust and scream for the angel’s death.
‘Kill his slowly my lord so we may saviour his death!’ says one, ‘and then drink his celestial blood!’ you hear another guttural voice add in support. Turning to your left first, then your right, you see two great horned demons, one with one half of its face scared and its eye and horn missing while the other has two red horns that curl over its face. Your lieutenants - To’lor and Gutlal both smile wickedly towards you with eagerness.
You attention turns back to the angel in your grasp and you feel his struggles cease. Staring into his eyes you feel something unexpected, something you had not dared to feel in decades.
You feel pity.
From the deep recesses of your consciousness you hear the seductive voice command you - ‘Kill him, kill him now! Your army deserves to feast upon him after the deaths he caused!’
‘No!’ you scream out loud, resisting your Inner Demon, ‘he fought well. He will live for the moment.’ Chain him to my throne!’
The demons are visibly disappointed and angered by the command. ‘But my lord, he dared try and hunt you down to kill you!’ the great horned demon by your side asserts.
‘He will live until I tire of torturing him, now To’lor leave me and take the troops with you!’ you order. Fire flares up in To’lor’s demonic eyes before he bows, ‘As you order my lord’ and he signals the other demons to follow him from the throne room.
You sit on a throne made of demonic skulls and bones within a cathedral of gold and ivory staring at the chained angel at your feet.
‘I was once a pitiful angel like you - blinded by the light of heaven, ignorant of the truth that I was but a meaningless pawn’ you eventual say with venom in your voice.
‘I am nothing like you – DEMON LORD!’ the angel spits back, ‘you have turned your back on heaven to lead the very thing you once fought to destroy!’
‘Ahhh, so you know me do you? You know everything about me?’ you say rising to your feet, ‘you know nothing!’ and you lash out with your foot slamming into the angels face. Your voice rising with growing anger you spit down at the cowering celestial ‘I did not turn my back on heaven, they turned their back on me!’
‘I was a general of Heavens armies. I was a champion of their cause. But what was my reward – banishment! And my crime – love. Yes, love. I dared love an angel forbidden to me because of her station. In heaven love should be cherished and worshipped, not punished.’
You stand over the angel ripping him to his feet to look into your eyes, ‘And you call me a demon lord like it is an insult. Well when heaven cast me out the demons embraced me. They followed my command and they heeded my call.’
Throwing the angel to the floor you say coldly ‘And when I needed help it was Graz’zt, curse his black soul, my old enemy who granted it too me, not any celestial!’
‘But, you once fought against Graz’zt. You repelled every invasion the demon lord sent against us.’ The angel dared to respond.
‘Yes, he has been my enemy for a millennium. I was a desperate fool to seek his aid. Now he has found a way to curse me with an Inner Demon who did this to my eye and who threatens to drive me to the brink of insanity. But I am too strong, I will not let despair overcome me any longer!’ you respond dropping back into the throne.
Tentatively rising to his feet, the angel looks at you with a new level of understanding and sympathy brimming in his eyes. ‘I came to kill you Adimarchus. I came to save us from the immense army you are building to invade heaven, but perhaps heaven is not the enemy you should be attacking…...perhaps Graz’zt is.’
After a moment of silence in barely a whisper you respond–
‘Perhaps Graz’zt is Angel, perhaps he is…’
Haunted Dream Seven
You step from the black flame and into a skull chamber of Occiptus. Turning about you will the final stage of the test to be complete.
From your Smoking Eye a great fiery plasm roars and flies directly at the black flame and then disappearing within its midst.
‘It is done Anthux’ you hear yourself say and turning to face the angel by your side ‘the Test of the Smoking Eye has been created and the ascension of the next ruler of Occipitus after me assured. Perhaps that shall be you Anthux?’ you finish with a laugh.
‘You know I would never rule this evil place Adimarchus and I’m hoping you will soon seek redemption and cease ruling it yourself too,’ you the angel say.
‘Perhaps after Graz’zt is destroyed by our army Anthux’ you say in response.
‘OUR army Adimarchus…OUR army! He is an enemy not an equal or even an ally!’ the voice erupts in your head, ‘you are a fool Adimarchus.’
Ignoring the Inner Demon has proved increasingly easier the longer you spend conversing with the angel Anthux.
‘Lord Adimarchus’ a guttural voice interrupts
‘Yes To’lor’ you respond in annoyance at being disturbed.
‘Our scouts report that Graz’zt’s forces outnumber ours by three to one’ To’lor reports with a tinge of fear betrayed in his voice.
‘I have never lost against the six-fingered fiend. Have no fear for I will could never lose against one such as he’ you speak with utmost confidence.
‘Come, we must ready the army for tomorrows conquest’
Haunted Dream Eight
Dark armies howl and scream as they face off against each other over the debris littered battlefield.
‘They are too many Dark Lord! We must retreat!’ Gutlal forces out through his scarred mouth.
‘Nonsense! I will destroy half of Graz’zt’s army on my own’ you hear yourself scoff. ‘and Anthux will destroy the other half, now order the army to attack, I will lead the reserve troops once they are in position, Anthux will head the main force’
‘As you wish, Lord Adimarchus’, Gutlal replies with a sinister look in his eye.
You take to the air high above the impending conflict and glide unseen with your white feathery wings towards the great force of gigantic demons you have hidden at the rear of the conflict.
You land on a great pile of bones and rusted weapons discarded from countless other conflicts and appear.
‘Giant demons of the Wastelands’ you begin, quelling any noise immediately. ‘You are the greatest of my troops, the most powerful of my demons!’
The gigantic monsters murmur their approval.
‘You are undefeated and feared by all creatures, you invincible to their pitiful attacks’
The great demons eyes begin to glow with fiery battle lust and some begin to strike their chests or shields.
‘You shall crush this army beneath your feet, you fuel your strength with their blood. Nothing will stand in your way!’
The demons begin to growl and shake their weapons feverishly.
‘I will lead you myself this day to glorious victory – ready yourself for Graz’zt’s destruction!’
Once again you take the air lifting your sword high, ready to charge out of the cover and into the enemies ranks when something catches your eye.
To’lor frantically flies across the dark sky from the direction of the battle. You hold up your hand to stay your force as he approaches and notice he bears numerous gruesome wounds.
‘Lord, Anthux….he has been captured and taken from the battlefield’
Fear washes over your mind…terrible, numbing fear. You feel helpless and sickened with terror at the loss of Anthux.
‘Where has he been taken?’ you frantically ask.
‘I fear that he has been taken to Canceri my lord, to Graz’zt’s terrible asylum called Skullrot!’ To’lor answers.
‘Then I must save him,’ and you begin to cast.
‘What of the army Adimurchus and this force?’ To’lor urgently asks as you begin to fade.
‘You command them, I care not!’ and you fade away into nothingness…
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Wow, MrVergee and delvesdeep, thanks for posting those dreams, some great imagery and back story there.
I have just this week been writing some dreams for one of the PCs in my campaign who s beginning to be inflicted with a mild dose of Adimarchus' madness, and these will certainly inspire some further inspiration.
My idea though is to keep the dreams much more vague - series of images, visions of the future and of the past, truth mixed with lies mixed with madness. As well as clues to Adimarchus' past and future, Im mixing in some other clues for different parts of the AP as well as some red herrings.
Wow, MrVergee and delvesdeep, thanks for posting those dreams, some great imagery and back story there.
I have just this week been writing some dreams for one of the PCs in my campaign who s beginning to be inflicted with a mild dose of Adimarchus' madness, and these will certainly inspire some further inspiration.
My idea though is to keep the dreams much more vague - series of images, visions of the future and of the past, truth mixed with lies mixed with madness. As well as clues to Adimarchus' past and future, Im mixing in some other clues for different parts of the AP as well as some red herrings.
I was initially going to go the same way making the dreams very abstract and a madening mix of memories and horrific scenes of random insanity. When I thought more about it though I felt that herewas a terrific opportunity to foreshadow Adimarchus and his story without confusing the players.
The backstory dreams allows the players to build up a familiarity to Adimarchus and eventually even empathise with his plight. I wa fearful that if the players did not feel that he was as much a victim of evil as a leader of it, they would automatically assume the angel in the cage was the ultimate villian, release him and attack him as the offical HC indicates.
By retelling his story the players can learn of his Inner Demon and the events that caused his ultimate insanity. I also thought it would link nicely with the Nightmare Realm adventure we were discussing here. My idea was to have the party enter the same dreams they dreamt throughout the Path and have to pinpoint the moment/occurance that lead Adimarchus to his eventual fate.
I used the example of To'lor, Adimarchus traitor general, in Dream 8. Stopping To'lor from telling Adimarchus of Antux's 'abduction' will save Adimarchus from one of the 9 traits - fear.
While I believe having the dreams more random and full of madness etc is realistic, it doesn't foreshadow nor steer the party towards the ultimate goal of the Adventure any where as effectively as memories/backstories.
This is my opinion in any event
Delvesdeep
Hey Delvesdeep
Impressive work you wrote. Do you have any idea on how to have the PCs stop each of these pivotal moments in the nightmare realm? That's what I find hard to do, because you have to keep it original.
And another thing, could you clarify your first dream please? Not quite sure who this refers to.
Hey Delvesdeep
Impressive work you wrote. Do you have any idea on how to have the PCs stop each of these pivotal moments in the nightmare realm? That's what I find hard to do, because you have to keep it original.
And another thing, could you clarify your first dream please? Not quite sure who this refers to.
Thanks MrVergee, I liked many of your ideas as well.
The way I'm thinking (I haven't started writing up the adventure yet) is that the players are somehow told (Nidrama, an angel leader?) that the path to freeing Adimarchus from his Inner Demon and insanity is to enter his dreams and stop him from choosing the path that eventually lead him to his plight.
The party will be told the 9 traits (mentioned in an earlier post -
Nightmare Nine – Ultimate Betrayal (Madness)
Nightmare Eight – Abandonment (Fear)
Nightmare Seven - Test of the Smoking Eye (Pride)
Nightmare Six – Demon Lords Pity (Anger)
Nightmare Five – Occiptus (Pain)
Nightmare Four – Invasion of Heaven (Revenge)
Nightmare Three – Graz’zt’s Gift (Agony)
Nightmare Two – Banishment (Anguish)
Nightmare One – Love Lost (Despair)
Also note that the party will never 'dream' Nightmare One (unlike the other dreams)or at least make sense of any of it. It is actually the dream that the player with the Dream Trait/Smoking Eye dreams the most, the 'inbetween' dreams to the others, but it seems an incoherant jumble of insane visions. Even in his subconscious, Adimarchus finds the moment too difficult to relive and seperate it from the emotions it brings.
The first time the party will relive the event that began Adimarchus path to Insanity and his fall into the darkness, will be during the adventure into Adimarchus Nightmare Realm.
To stop the pivotal moments, the party will have to remember back over the dream when they enter it (assuming they have a copy of the dream at hand) and pinpoint when the moment occured. They will then have to stop it from occuring either physically or through roleplay.
When the party stop the event/moment the creature they stop will change into a nightmare version of itself. When the party defeat the creature they will have conquered that 'trait'.
If the party do not stop the trait from occuring they are attacked by a much more powerful nightmarish opponent/s.
In terms of the first dream, I used this more to introduce the Nightmares to my character and give him the first glimpse of the angel/demon feel. He is an orphan so this dream is used to blend his own horrific past with Adimarchus'. It explains how he was orphaned (Mother suffered from Adimarchus' madness which eventually overwealmed her) and reveals his own first signs of sharing this madness as well.
Up until this point the character has had the same reocuuring nightmare, but at this stage it changes to include Adimarchus and his Inner Demon.
You could use the dream as written or alter it to make it more specific to your character but I feel the first dream should explain the players link with Adimarchus, and madness, somehow.
Thanks
Delvesdeep
Also, just another quick clarification - the first dream posted above will not be included in the final adventure (Adimarchus' Nightmare Realm). This will be superseded by Adimarchus First and most important/powerful dream - when he was caught with Nidrama, killed an arresting guard and torn away from his love.
Susequently this dream is also the final dream/nightmare the party will have to move through before they can face Adimarchus' Inner Demon.
Delvesdeep
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Also, just another quick clarification - the first dream posted above will not be included in the final adventure (Adimarchus' Nightmare Realm). This will be superseded by Adimarchus First and most important/powerful dream - when he was caught with Nidrama, killed an arresting guard and torn away from his love.
Susequently this dream is also the final dream/nightmare the party will have to move through before they can face Adimarchus' Inner Demon.
Delvesdeep
Delvesdeep, first allow me to say that I am awed by your creativity. MrVergee, major props to you as well.
Let me state for the record that I am creating my own versions of these dreams for my campaign using a little cut and paste from each of your dreams.
Delvesdeep, I am confused by one thing: perhaps I have missed something, but your dreams involving Adimarchus begin with Celeste sorrowfully stating that his pride etc has lost him to heaven. But what is it that he did/didn't do that brought him to this point. That part of the puzzle I am still at a loss.
Forgive me if it was stated and I merely failed to see it.
Robert
Delvesdeep, first allow me to say that I am awed by your creativity. MrVergee, major props to you as well.
Let me state for the record that I am creating my own versions of these dreams for my campaign using a little cut and paste from each of your dreams.
Delvesdeep, I am confused by one thing: perhaps I have missed something, but your dreams involving Adimarchus begin with Celeste sorrowfully stating that his pride etc has lost him to heaven. But what is it that he did/didn't do that brought him to this point. That part of the puzzle I am still at a loss.
Forgive me if it was stated and I merely failed to see it.
Robert
Thanks Robert.
The event/dream that reveals to the party what Adimarchus' crime was and the identity of his love is the last dream they recieve and this dream is not 'shared' by Adimarchus but by Nidrama after they rescue her.
I haven't included the final dream above yet either when Adimarchus attempts to rescue Anthux, is ultimately betrayed and finally driven insane from the despair. My version will be very similiar to MrVergee's except for a few name changes etc.
I'll write it up and post it up after New Year but basically it will involve Adimarchus taking Nidrama to a secret cove at the base of the Mounting Heavens on a twinkling night. Here he gives her a small gift - a Elysium Star, a glittering flower rarely found in the fields of Elysium, the place where Adimarchus first saw Nidrama.
Before he can give the gift though a patrol of angelic guards interrupt and charge the couple with Illegial Love (Pairing of angels of different stations is illegial in heaven to not confuse ranks of heavenly ascension or duty).
One of the gaurds is commanded to strike Nidrama during the ensuing struggle and Adimarchus responds with anger killing the angel and sealing his eventual fate...
When the players enter into this dream in the Nightmare Realm the dream will continue beyond this point and show the lead gaurd remain when the other guards take Adimarchus and Nidrama away. The head guard will pick up the flower from the ground before dropping into the ground once more to flatten it with his boot. He will pick the flower up with his hand, his six fingered hand.
When the party eventual rescue Nidrama, and save Adimarchus from his insanity, it is Nidrama using the same dried flower that bring him out of his despair and convince to seek redemption and save his soul.
Anyway these are my current thoughts in any event.
Have a great new year
Delvesdeep
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Delvesdeep
Thanks Robert.
The event/dream that reveals to the party what Adimarchus' crime was and the identity of his love is the last dream they recieve and this dream is not 'shared' by Adimarchus but by Nidrama after they rescue her.
I haven't included the final dream above yet either when Adimarchus attempts to rescue Anthux, is ultimately betrayed and finally driven insane from the despair. My version will be very similiar to MrVergee's except for a few name changes etc.
I'll write it up and post it up after New Year but basically it will involve Adimarchus taking Nidrama to a secret cove at the base of the Mounting Heavens on a twinkling night. Here he gives her a small gift - a Elysium Star, a glittering flower rarely found in the fields of Elysium, the place where Adimarchus first saw Nidrama.
Before he can give the gift though a patrol of angelic guards interrupt and charge the couple with Illegial Love (Pairing of angels of different stations is illegial in heaven to not confuse ranks of heavenly ascension or duty).
One of the gaurds is commanded to strike Nidrama during the ensuing struggle and Adimarchus responds with anger killing the angel and sealing his eventual fate...
When the players enter into this dream in the Nightmare Realm the dream will continue beyond this point and show the lead gaurd remain when the other guards take Adimarchus and Nidrama away. The head guard will pick up the flower from the ground before dropping into the ground once more to flatten it...
The picking up the flower with six fingered hand...brilliant!
I'm sorry for jumping the gun, I didn't realize you simply weren't finished writing it all yet. I was similarly perplexed as to why you considered the part of the story that Adimarchus rushes off to save Anthux was not part of the dream story that the characters receive....but now I realize it's merely in the works.
I look forward to reading it. You have done such a masterful job so far.
By the way for purposes of the HC book game, does this nightmare timeline happen as a replacement for the finale' of the adventure - so essentially the nightmare and subsequent redemption of Adimarchus' soul is the end of the campaign arc as far as the module book is concerned??? This is so that I know where/what chapter to place this all in.
Robert
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Susequently this dream is also the final dream/nightmare the party will have to move through before they can face Adimarchus' Inner Demon.
Delvesdeep
One more think I thought of, Delvesdeep: when the party is picking their way through the nightmare / dream realm of Adimarchus' mind, perhaps they meet a guide of sorts.
In most cinematic adaptations of this type of event the cliche is that a small child (representing innocence) finds the visitors and guides them / answers questions - from a sweet innocent perspective. Perhaps there is such an entity that the PCs meet that is actually a fragment of Adimarchus' mind that still holds onto his sweet innocence. I'm thinking the eyes are unique to behold, and then upon the climax they see the broken adimarchus' and see the same unique eyes and realize that the child is just a part of him. The child can either fizzle away, merge with Adimarchus, or perhaps the "evil" side of the angel (in whatever physical manifestation occurs) squashes the child.
Just thinking out loud....
Robert
The way I'm planning it at the moment (unless someone comes up with a better suggestion later :)) is to -
Replace the Strike on Shatterhorn adventure
We've talked about this a few time on this and other threads. The adventure is a meaningless collection of encounters thrown into a dungeon setting. The Cagewrights found within are unknown and faceless to the party making the adventure, which is meant to be a exciting climaxical series of battles, into a waste of time.
So, I've written up a side trek/mini adventure involving the party hunting down the final two Cagewrights - Embril and Alurad - and rescuing Nidrama from the Kopru Necropolis lost beneath the lake surface in the Haunted Village.
Asylum
The next adventure still remains Asylum with the party travelling to Canceri with Nidrama in tow (same as written in the HC except Nidrama's inclusion now has meaning).
Nightmare Realm
The party enter into this realm when they stand before the caged Adimarchus in Asylum. They have claimed the Dream Travel spell from Embril in the Kopru Ruins and use it to step directly into his maddening dreams. Nidrama may or may not remain.
When they finally destroy his Inner Demon and step from the realm, they can open the cage and release the coherant Adimarchus whose initial anger will fade away when he sees his love.
Adimarchus will still be filled with rage at his betrayal and Graz'zt's evil and be determined to gather an army to finish the job he started. It will take the party and finally Nidrama gentle passing him the crushed flower he once tried to give to her, to convince him to seek redemption and save his soul.
Angels Redemption
If this is achieved the party will need to rush off with Adimarchus to Occiptus where Adimarchus will step into the column of flame within Skull to sacrifice himself so that the plane can once again be rejoined with heaven.
Before he can do this though Anthux arrives with Adimarchus' two traitorous generals to end his and the parties threat once and for all. The party will need to kill Anthux, or at least allow Adimarchus enough time to complete his task, if he is to be finally redeemed and Cauldron saved.
Adimarchus reforms in the Seven Heavens as a simple glowing ball or petitioner. When he steps into the flame the plane begins to change instantly and elevates into the sky causing them to cling to the walls. When the plane settles the party can walk out of the skull at witness the planes transformation and rejoining with the Seven Heavens.
The Arch-Angel Galadriel can appear before the party and tell them to not feel sorrow for 'he gave up his life to redeem his soul and now his soul will start anew' and holds out her hand where a small glowing ball of light with gentle fly from the broken skull of Occiptus and hover above her hand.
Also you mentioned Celeste from the first dream – change this name to another angelic name possibly Galadriel or some other celestial sounding name so that the party do not confuse this with the Celeste from Cauldron.
Just on Celeste, I thought it would be a nice twist to have her mother be the Arch-Angel who sentenced Adimarchus to be banished and who sacrificed herself to tear the battlefield from heaven and cast it into the Abyss – Haloen. What do you think?
I also like your idea of the child guide. Another idea could be to use a ‘memory/vision’ of Haloen – his guide and teacher through his life who wept when she cast him from heaven and died to save heaven. Perhaps her memory embodies everything good, holy and pure to him and therefore is the last piece of fraying thread that holds onto his sanity…
Great idea Robert – I’ll use the guide idea. I may need a little help with each challenge too later if you are willing.
Thanks
Delvesdeep
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Just on Celeste, I thought it would be a nice twist to have her mother be the Arch-Angel who sentenced Adimarchus to be banished and who sacrificed herself to tear the battlefield from heaven and cast it into the Abyss – Haloen. What do you think?
I also like your idea of the child guide. Another idea could be to use a ‘memory/vision’ of Haloen – his guide and teacher through his life who wept when she cast him from heaven and died to save heaven. Perhaps her memory embodies everything good, holy and pure to him and therefore is the last piece of fraying thread that holds onto his sanity…
Great idea Robert – I’ll use the guide idea. I may need a little help with each challenge too later if you are willing.
Thanks
Delvesdeep
Thanks for the explanation - I understand it much better now.
As for the mother arch-angel being Haloen; I think its interesting thought - however unless theres some way and reason to make this a point of emphasis to the players, it seems it would merely be unnecessary point. I would think you could lose the the players on this twist making things confusing unless you have good plans and ways to make it important to unveil. Otherwise it's just superfluous and possibly even a red-herring unless it makes a difference to the story one way or the other.
I will definitely be willing to lend my assistance to any such brain-storming.
As for angelic sounding names (for the "galadriel" point you made which i will not use that name for I know it will obviously cause a skoff that will lose its powerful impact to the story): Acacia, Kristalyn, Daemieryn (pronounced Day-mee-air-in), Selyna, Sylveran, Vyrtuous, Andromeda, Aurora, Illumina, Serena, Serenity
Robert
So, it's been a while since we've heard anything on this thread. I have to admit, I haven't been working on my own end-game dream sequence anymore. The main reason is that it is still so far away in game time. We've only just finished Test of the Smoking Eye, and since I'm inserting some other adventures as well, we're still about 10 adventures away from the end.
Still I was wondering whether anyone has had any new ideas. If so, I'd certainly like to read them ...