If things go according to plan (yeah right? lol) one of the pc's is going to be crucified by the Death Knight Campaign BBEG and i was wondering if there were actual rules anywhere for this.
You would have to use a combination of rules. Basically they would be restrained, likely dealt a combination of lethal and nonlethal damage, and suffer from a lack of sleep and food/water. Since crucifixion also implies being pinned with nails I would set the escape artist DC higher, likely by 5, than just being tied down would.
If it is a historically accurate crucifixion, then the character's legs would be broken after being put upon the corss so that they would suffocate as the weight of their body compressed their lungs. See the rules for suffocation.
Heathenson -- That was a powerful scene in the movie, it was also a powerful scene in Howard's original story, the title of which I have forgotten, but yeah, that's where I stole the idear, heh heh ;)
Goblich -- Good point. I also read that some roman soldiers whose task it was to wait for the person to die would sometimes end their life prematurely with a sword or spear, and often times if paid by the victims family (or the victim) their legs would be broken to hasten death.
I was going to use the Pole crucifixion, and not the cross. However, the method of death would probably be similar. I will be sure to break his legs.
The cool thing is to, is that the PC to be crucified killed the Death Knight when he was alive, and his last words were "I'll see you soon."
thank you all so much for your help.
Well I'd say that you would hang him up, nailing is actually uncommon generally the person would be tied up by the arms and the feet. Then they would have to make fortitude save, that increases each time, every so often... every hour or two I would say. This would be a perfect time to have the endurance feat I would like to point out. Every a failed save would indicate that their legs have given out and they begin to suffocate... either have them begin to take damage as their lungs fill with fluid or have them test again at the same save to push themselves upright again. I would go with 2 consecutive fails and the player dies.
Crucifixions often lasted for days so keep that in mind the spearing was just to see if they were dead, the separation of blood from plasma. The combination of time and the hot sun would sap all the strength from a man. Generally if things went on too long soldiers would come around and break the legs making the suffocation immediate.
There is info in the 3.0 "Book of Vile Darkness" by Monte Cook.
Page 39
DOH!!! and I have that book! I went into my deep dark closet, brushed off the cobwebs, kicked the little ones out of the room, and looked up pg 39 of the BoVD, and Voila!
So, what i think I am going to do is a combination of the two sets. Suffocation and the 10% hp loss per hour, except to make it more excruciating, i am going to allow the pc a Fort save for half damage from the crucifixion. also, the campaign takes place in a sweltering jungle, so this dude is gonna get messed up.
again, that is the point of the story though. The player ha ssaid he wanted his character to slowly turn to the dark side, and the crucifixion is gonna be the capstone. Even if he dies, he will be resurrected by an NPC that abandoned the party and betrayed them to their fate back at level 2 (the party is currently level 13).
and I am doing this part of the campaign as a solo scenario for the player, about an hour or two before the rest of the players show up, so you can imagine the other players faces when they find the most powerful pc in the group nailed to a pole at the jungle crossroads. It's gonna be frosted flakes in my game room!
thank you all so much for your help and ideas.
There is info in the 3.0 "Book of Vile Darkness" by Monte Cook.
Page 39
DOH!!! and I have that book! I went into my deep dark closet, brushed off the cobwebs, kicked the little ones out of the room, and looked up pg 39 of the BoVD, and Voila!
So, what i think I am going to do is a combination of the two sets. Suffocation and the 10% hp loss per hour, except to make it more excruciating, i am going to allow the pc a Fort save for half damage from the crucifixion. also, the campaign takes place in a sweltering jungle, so this dude is gonna get messed up.
again, that is the point of the story though. The player ha ssaid he wanted his character to slowly turn to the dark side, and the crucifixion is gonna be the capstone. Even if he dies, he will be resurrected by an NPC that abandoned the party and betrayed them to their fate back at level 2 (the party is currently level 13).
and I am doing this part of the campaign as a solo scenario for the player, about an hour or two before the rest of the players show up, so you can imagine the other players faces when they find the most powerful pc in the group nailed to a pole at the jungle crossroads. It's gonna be frosted flakes in my game room!
thank you all so much for your help and ideas.
Sounds like a fun game. And once again proof the book of vile darkness is full of all sorts of interesting goodies. I had forgotten crucifixion was in there.