NPC Fail

[cranewings]

Imagine an exiled warlord who tried to take the crown and failed.

5 years later he is in his keep, hatching a plot to get an ancient artifact: a book that reveals the will of the gods. Unfortunately, the book slips through his grasp.

A player character decides he wants to trade it to him, figuring it is a celestial book and that the worst it could do is turn him good.

So, he gets the book and reads that he shall never rule again. He reads that the new human tribes (of which the pcs belong) are to purge the valley of the horde and that he needs to follow or get out of the way.

He is an 11th level, NE cleric with Lawful tendencies.

What next?

[Mort the Cleverly Named]

Well, I can't see an evil cleric going down without a fight, so it looks like it is time to subvert the will of the gods. Dark magic, human sacrifice, and pacts with various powers (Devils, Demons, and beyond). Presumably a final battle against the evil mutated form of the ruler before freeing the land for all time and all that jazz.

Alternatively, given the lawful tendencies, perhaps a "power behind the throne" deal? The warlord, knowing he can't win, backs the tribes and uses all of his power and influence (while he has it) to get as good a position as possible. From there, have a classic Wormtongue subverter/betrayer, or a Machiaveli/Realpolitik type. Either way would make a great ally/opponent/foil for the PCs. It also emphasizes the results of their actions, turning the enemy into a semi-friend instead of becoming an Enemy+ like in the "dark magic" route.

[Tinalles]

If I am a Lawful Evil cleric, and I have a document directly revealing the will of the gods, and it says I'm never going to rule again and must knuckle under or be swept away, then:

1) I weep bitterly and beat my chest for a day or two.

2) As a lawful type, I submit to the will of the gods and bow before the PCs.

3) As an evil type, I instantly begin working to establish myself in the PCs good graces, with an eye towards becoming the power behind the throne.

I would have liked having the shiny hat and people bowing to me all day long. But since I can't have that, I'll be the next best thing -- Cardinal Richelieu.

Oh, and I try to get my kids on the throne eventually, in any one of a number of ways. It could be:

1) Organizing the violent overthrow of the monarchy 20 years down the line when my offspring are ready for the crown;

2) Arranging for my offspring to marry into the royal family;

3) Seducing the queen -- legitimately if that's the way she rolls, or through the cunning use of an Alter Self spell the way Uther Pendragon seduced Igraine, or via blackmail, or mind-control magic if that's what it takes.

Any way you look at it, the end result should be that MY squalling brats sit on the throne, not anybody else's.

[Wolfsnap]

Tinalles has the right of it. Giving the guy that book sis a very clever way to "defeat" him. Or course, now he has to move his goalposts to a more possible "win" scenario. The cool thing is that even as he plots against the PC heroes, the more he works with them the more chances there are for them to truly convert him to the cause of "good" - so he can either be a cackling machivelli, or actually undergo real characer development.

[Guy Kilmore]

That is if he believes the book, or believes that the PCs didn't effect the book some how to tell him lies. This could lead him to believe that the PC did not bargain in good faith with him and all that fun...

[The Drunken Dragon]

cranewings wrote:

Imagine an exiled warlord who tried to take the crown and failed.

5 years later he is in his keep, hatching a plot to get an ancient artifact: a book that reveals the will of the gods. Unfortunately, the book slips through his grasp.

A player character decides he wants to trade it to him, figuring it is a celestial book and that the worst it could do is turn him good.

So, he gets the book and reads that he shall never rule again. He reads that the new human tribes (of which the pcs belong) are to purge the valley of the horde and that he needs to follow or get out of the way.

He is an 11th level, NE cleric with Lawful tendencies.

What next?

shrug, leave, and finally take that vacation off the coast of Osirion that you've always wanted? Lawful Evil or not...beaches are the best :D But, seriously though, probably nothing. Screw destiny and all that jazz...

[cranewings]

Thanks for the tips. I'll probably settle it this weekend the civilized way, and select one of your post with a die roll.

[Drejk]

Aside from excellent advice from Tinalles? Well, if the gods will is that he will never rule then it is the time to retire the gods, even if it meant deposing of them... Well, it is sacrifice he is willing to make for the good of all, er, himself.