I read the adventure a couple times, maybe I missed it as I scanned through Eberron parts that I wasn't intersted in, but I just specifically searched for it.... Anyways
What does viktor have to do with this? And how has he freed people if he has been in prison?
Thanks, Im sure I missed the answer in the adventure........
Hmmmm...
Viktor hasn't freed anyone this time around. He's warped an ex-protege of his into a sadistic serial killer (the Raven). He's not dominating the Raven or anything like that. He was just one of the few people who ever showed Corbin Eldridge any sort of kindness (long before his hubris warped the inquisitive into an evil mastermind), so Corbin idolizes Viktor and does whatever he tells him to do.
Hmmmm...
Viktor hasn't freed anyone this time around. He's warped an ex-protege of his into a sadistic serial killer (the Raven). He's not dominating the Raven or anything like that. He was just one of the few people who ever showed Corbin Eldridge any sort of kindness (long before his hubris warped the inquisitive into an evil mastermind), so Corbin idolizes Viktor and does whatever he tells him to do.
Well that's lame - You should have at least given Viktor a Power Ring forged out of vibranium or something to explain it...
Well that's lame - You should have at least given Viktor a Power Ring forged out of vibranium or something to explain it...
Hah, well even if I might agree I would never say that to Mr. Logue, because you make wicked cool adventures. BUT I will say Ill need to insert something like a ring or a spell or psionics ect. With my players, if there wasn't a reason they would NEVER piece together that Viktor had anything to do with it, and therefore much of the coolness of the adventure would be wasted. In fact I find that a great many dungeon adventures require me taking subtleties and highlighting them for my adventurers. Sometimes I wonder what other peoples campaigns are like if I have to "dumb down" published adventures.... shrug.
Anyways, a couple minor changes and this is going to be epic for my players. I am making viktors first kill a relative.
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Hanexs, have you read or played the "prequel" adventure to Quoth the Raven, Chimes at Midnight? If not, it might make it a bit easier to understand Viktor's motivations, and how he works. Also, if these adventures are played in close succession, it may be more obvious to your players to think of Viktor - maybe with a further hint just before the adventure starts that Viktor has been incarcerated in the asylum.
If you haven't played Chimes At Midnight, I would definitely suggest setting up Viktor as much as possible. Whether as a professional rival in the campaign or as someone your PCs just heard about: maybe all the talk at the city's gathering places are about the unhinged brilliant detective and his recent mean streak, then some discussion about people he was involved with.
If you need a super-magical explanation, then setting him up as a telepathic detective can work. It may take away some of his mystique, since asking,"How did you do it?" and getting "My prodigious magical power!" rather than "With style and panache, simpletons!" takes some of the focus off of Viktor as an amazing intellect. Also, he's in an asylum. If he can use his magical or psionic influence from there, the party may argue that he should just be executed immediately (which is fine if you don't want to run the upcoming follow-up "Hell's Heart") and ruin some of the subtlety of Viktor as a villain. And it calls the asylum caretakers' competence into question a bit earlier than would otherwise happen. The same holds true with magical gewgaws, though I think a ring or something would be permissable. Anything else would have to be hidden...creatively.
You know your players and I think your solution could definitely work. If you plan for this adventure a few sessions in advance, maybe with rumors about the detective or even a procession of spitting, hollering citizens as he's hauled off to the asylum prior to the adventure, the pay-off will definitely be worth it.
I just think when they are intervieiwing him in the prison their needs to be a revelation. Like "you notice he has a ring with the enchantment aura on it". Or they push Viktor around untill he confesses that he hypnotized a guard, and that guard is the Raven ect. I just want my players to know it is really Viktor. As it is written they might finish the adventure thinking that Viktor has little to do with it and I want to make sure that doesn't happen.
But, yeah, that is easily solved.
Well that's lame - You should have at least given Viktor a Power Ring forged out of vibranium or something to explain it...Hmmmm...
Viktor hasn't freed anyone this time around. He's warped an ex-protege of his into a sadistic serial killer (the Raven). He's not dominating the Raven or anything like that. He was just one of the few people who ever showed Corbin Eldridge any sort of kindness (long before his hubris warped the inquisitive into an evil mastermind), so Corbin idolizes Viktor and does whatever he tells him to do.
Ha! Like you need magic to manipulate people and bend them to your will? Not I! No really, the fact that magic is not employed makes it all the more awesome. Detecting magic does nothing for it. It's all pure guile and manipulation...I know all about this...though I'm usually on the receiving end (women).
No, really, it's useful to think of the Raven as having these tendencies anyways. He's probably always had them, but before, when Viktor was not yet turned down the dark path, he discouraged them in his protege, but now he's encouraging them and guiding them instead. He's like: "Yeah, Corbin, show the world how great you are, soak it in blood if need be young friend, and while you're at it, could you help me with a little problem I have..."
That's what is going on.
I just think when they are intervieiwing him in the prison their needs to be a revelation. Like "you notice he has a ring with the enchantment aura on it". Or they push Viktor around untill he confesses that he hypnotized a guard, and that guard is the Raven ect. I just want my players to know it is really Viktor. As it is written they might finish the adventure thinking that Viktor has little to do with it...
Wait Hanexs! That's not true! Re-read the interrogation section...Viktor WANTS them to know he's involved. He's all about it. He wants the PCs to know he's the one who beat them. The interrogation has little to do with ascertaining whether Viktor was involved or not, and everything to do with getting useful clues with which one may out-fox the Raven's death-traps. Which I thought was a cool way to tangibly reward players who enjoy outfoxing their foes or getting into a tense interrogation scene. Hope this helps my man.
If you need a super-magical explanation, then setting him up as a telepathic detective can work. It may take away some of his mystique, since asking,"How did you do it?" and getting "My prodigious magical power!" rather than "With style and panache, simpletons!" takes some of the focus off of Viktor as an amazing intellect.
Definitely. What makes Viktor so cool is that he only needs his razor-sharp mind to undo his enemies...if you give him psionic/magic powers, it cheapens that aspect of his character a great deal.
Ha! Like you need magic to manipulate people and bend them to your will? Not I! No really, the fact that magic is not employed makes it all the more awesome. Detecting magic does nothing for it. It's all pure guile and manipulation...I know all about this...though I'm usually on the receiving end (women).
That's what is going on.
So THAT explains the wife, hmnnn? j/k
So THAT explains the wife, hmnnn? j/k
Ha! Like you need magic to manipulate people and bend them to your will? Not I! No really, the fact that magic is not employed makes it all the more awesome. Detecting magic does nothing for it. It's all pure guile and manipulation...I know all about this...though I'm usually on the receiving end (women).
That's what is going on.
Heh! Nope. Believe me this time I wasn't on the receiving end of the manipulation, I was on the giving end. And yes, magic powers were necessary in this case to convince a woman as wonderful as her to get hitched to the ten-fingered warking Logue-beast that I am. ;-)