One thing I can't figure out is why would the ruler of a plane of the Abyss (i.e. Adimarchus) go and invent and set up a test whereby the person who completes the Test can take over rulership of his plane? What sort of an idiot would do that?
Is this set up because Adimarchus is insane? Or is there some other more devious reason that has escaped me as I've read Chapter Six?
Cheers all
Blakey
You could look at it that Adimarchus knew the fight against Graz'zt was unlikely to succeed, and rather than having any demon walk up and take over the plane, he put in place rules for what the new ruler must succeed at in order to do so. Adimarchus's test "stopped" creatures born on the Lower Planes from participating. This shows his desire to have some choice in picking who the next ruler would be.
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In my own campaign I've changed the test a little bit so that it makes more sense logically.
SPOILERS AHOY!!!
In my campaign Adimarchus killed the original ruler of Occipitus (who was actually named Occipitus) and in doing so was able to gain control of the layer. However, he ended up stuck with the thoughts, memories, and personality of the original demon lord floating around within his mind. This left him a bit unbalanced but not the absolute insane creature the party meets at Skullrot.
Realizing that Occipitus somehow retained an imprint of its rulers Adimarchus began to formulate a plan that would assure his eternal rulership of his domain. In my campaign the test of the smoking eye is a means of preparing a proper vessel for his "mind" to occupy. The test was made to only become active if Adimarchus lost control of the layer. The assumption would be that he was dead and gone and someone more powerful would have replaced him. The test itself was designed so that the person who passed it would be the most compatible for his strange nature.
1) The person would have to not be of the lower planes, and would kill a demon before they killed an angel.
2) The second test would assure that they were both strong enough to survive the dangerous plain of cysts, but that they were also focused in mind.
3) The third test would assure that they were ruthless and valued nothing above themselves.
When they passed the test Adimarchus could begin the move into their body and eventually be reborn and ready to retake his realm.
Obviously this did not occur. The sabatage by his angelic jester so that a good person could pass the test was the first error. He was also imprisoned instead of being killed. Thus his mind is not NEARLY as free to float around as it should be (although it still is floating around the Dreamscape, corrupting mortal minds as it passes).
I chalk up these errors in thinking to Adimarchus's own lack of focus.
One thing I can't figure out is why would the ruler of a plane of the Abyss (i.e. Adimarchus) go and invent and set up a test whereby the person who completes the Test can take over rulership of his plane? What sort of an idiot would do that?
Is this set up because Adimarchus is insane? Or is there some other more devious reason that has escaped me as I've read Chapter Six?
This is explained in some detail on pages 192-3 of the Hardcover, although it is left slightly vague.
"Saureya is the true architect of the Test". That's the real reason that the whole thing isn't an air-tight, demon-lord-intelligent affair.
Also, keep in mind that Adimarchus is a little more complex than some other, more famous, demon lords. He was once an angel, and part of him always wanted to be lifted back to goodness. That's why he kept celestials like Saureya and Athux around, and was so easily influenced by them.
Yes, Saureya engineered the Test (and influenced Addy into setting it up) in the hope that a good aligned being might win rulership of the plane and be able to re-integrate it into Celestia I believe.
Okay, yes, having re-read the HC again I can see this now. I think I'll have Saureya basically tell the PCs that when they speak to him.
Thanks for clearing that up!
B
Yes, Saureya engineered the Test (and influenced Addy into setting it up) in the hope that a good aligned being might win rulership of the plane and be able to re-integrate it into Celestia I believe.Okay, yes, having re-read the HC again I can see this now. I think I'll have Saureya basically tell the PCs that when they speak to him.
Thanks for clearing that up!
B
Actually the test is so flawed that any ceature, even from the lower planes can acquire the smoking eye and claim rulership of Occipitus. The point is that the first two tests are not neccesary to complete at all. The first test was designed to discourage creatures from the lower planes (remember, Kaurophon could not enter the entrance below the Cathedral of Feathers) to participate in the first test. The last test, sacrificing an ally into the flaming fountain is enough. That’s why Byakala, the marilith (see chapter 12) could become a ruler too. In my game the PC’s and the one who became ruler (a lawful good monk) left Occiptus on it’s own after chapter 6 (test of the smoking eye). After some period Byakala, unknown to the PC’s, arrived on Occipitus (don’t ask me how) and gained the smoking eye by sacrificing Liuvash (the succubus who tried to become ruler with the aid of the noble salamander Arrokh).
At the end of chapter 10, the reborn Orbius (formally known as Lord Vhalantru) returned to the material plane and Cauldron to take revenge on the PC’s. Hmm… he almost succeeded, killing the fighter and the rogue and petrifying the monk. In the end the cleric was able to destruct Orbius.By now they are planning to return to Occipitus to find Orbius and throw him in the fire (they know that someone with the smoking eye returns to the skull on Occipitus, dead but intact), before eliminating the leftovers of the Cagewrights in Shatterhorn. They will find Occipitus changed for the worst: the good Celestial parts crumbling due to Byalala’s efforts to destroy them.
I’m still thinking what she would have tried to do with the few good creatures left (also the PC’s allies), the avoral guardinal Halalia, the leonal guardinal and Saureya.
Anyhow they will not meet Byakala there when they arrive, because she became bored or so of ruling the plane and planeshifted to Carceri (got to work that out).
Peter