I like the idea of making the players choose whether or not to utilize sin magic in order to thwart the runelord of greed. However, I have been toying with the idea of adding some method for the pc's to discover a way to use the 'light' side of rune magic within the rune forge that incorporates the 7 virtues (temperence, chastity, humility, charity, diligence, patience and kindness). Has anyone else developed this idea any further, or does it seem like too large of a departure for the overall theme of the campaign?
I like this idea.
It sounds like you might have already drawn on this, but the article on the 'Seven Saintly Domains' from Dragon #355 (back when it was in hard copy... oh, the days!) could be handy.
Maybe the PCs could find something to do with First King Xin (p74 of Pathfinder #1) and the seven Virtues of Rule (wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest) that lets them 'corrupt' the runeforge into virtue magic. Maybe just use the Runeforged weapon qualities almost as written, but change the flavour a little.
For example:
Lifebound (based on Fertility): A union of abjuration and enchantment magic, a Fertility runeforged weapon functions as a bane weapon against necromancers and against undead created by necromancy spells (not against self-manifested undead or undead created by the create spawn special ability). As long as the weapon is carried, it can absorb up to three negative levels inflicted on the wielder per day.
In addition, a Virtue Runeforged weapon still gives a penalty on Diplomacy checks because they still make you more... well, fertile than before. Ever been in a room with someone who just won't stop talking about their fertility cycles? Definitely a Diplomacy penalty.
I suppose the 'crossover would be as follows (or close to):
SIN MAGIC----VIRTUE MAGIC
Miserly--------Soothing (Righteous Anger- don't be lied to)
Covetous-------Guarded (Rest- don't worry, you are safe)
Jealous--------Lifebound (Fertility- life energy)
Domineering----(this one was the hardest, I'm not sure)
Tyrannical-----Dismissive (Eager Striving- don't let others do your work)
Sadistic-------of Plenty (Wealth- having enough not to worry)
Parasitic------Upright (Honest Pride- don't cheat)
The rest I'm not too sure on... it's something to play with, anyway.
Dammit! I had a lengthy write-up about how the positive aspects of the seven schools gang up on the negatives, using the virtues to combat the sins, and all is gone due to some glitch in the boards.
Let's see:
You take the two prohibited schools to oppose the school tied to a sin, but instead of combining the sins associated with those schools, you combine the virtues:
Virtues:
Honest Pride (Pride): Illusion to showcase accomplishments - not just your own - so everyone can celebrate the achievements of all
Righteous Anger (Wrath): Evocation will punish wrongdoers, purifing their souls in fire.
Abundance (Gluttony): Necromancy will give those who went before their time a chance to complete their tasks, so tragedy won't need to turn into scarcity.
Wealth (Greed): Transmutation can enrich the lives of all by turning the good into the better.
Rest (Sloth): Conjuration lets you summon help to continue your work while you take a break.
Eager Striving (Envy): Abjuration will protect you, so your work can continue in the face of adversity
Fertility (Lust): Enchantment keeps relations amiable, so no one will be stricken dead in anger, and the next generation will be strong.
The runeforged properties thus become this (or something like this:)
Entertaining (transmutation and conjuration oppose illusion): wealth and rest provide entertainment, where you gain a joy greater and truer than the joy of your own ego's pride.
Balanced (conjuration and abjuration oppose evocation): the right combination of rest and eager striving make a balanced mind, without wrath-inducing stress.
Courting (abjuration and enchantment oppose necromancy): eager striving for love and fertility, the source of contentment that will prevent gluttony's frustrated and pointless binges.
Impressive (enchantment and illusion oppose transmutation): fertility and honest pride, combining to impress others with oneself, eliminating others the need to gather worldly wealth to ate one's desires.
Honourable (illusion and evocation oppose conjuration): honest pride and righteous anger become honour, to show what honour action brings and to punish those who dishonour themselves with sloth lack of contribution.
Active (evocation and necromancy oppose abjuration): righteous anger and abundance show the superiousity of acting yourself instead of envying others their success.
Plenty (necromancy and transmutation oppose enchantment): abundance and wealth will prevent any scarcity, and lust's lower urges have no lacking to feed upon and gain ground.