Amatatsu Seal "retribution"

[piffy]

In the JR campaign, the Seal is - I think - supposed to be a sort of Deux Ex Machina device, in case something goes wrong.
But if teh Pcs make a "liberal" use of the Seal, I think they should be penalized in some way.
In my case, I decided that every time they open the seal (and so reveal their position to the Onis) I have a new Oni-type monster find then, shadows them and play some dirty tricks.
At the moment, one infiltraded as a cart driver succeeded in divide the group and bur one cart.
do you think is a good Idea?

Marcello.

[Green Eyed Liar]

Yes, I think it is a very good idea. If their uses increase, the "retribution" should increase in severity as well.

Another possibility is, if you suddenly have dozens of scions running around, maybe one of them gets a "there can be only one" mentality.

[piffy]

You really have an evil streak, haven't you? :-)

[magnuskn]

Oni type creatures wouldn't fudge around with playing "dirty tricks". They want to murder Ameiko and everybody associated with her.

[brreitz]

My player's avoid using the seal at all costs. To quote them "Don't take it out of the box! It summons ringwraiths!"

[Asurasan]

In book two, when my group had to use the seal to bring back a fallen ally I increased their Notoriety points. Also the seal is particularly powerful, so I have it's effects be rather... impressive on a local scale.

I think for the last 3 books, I'll most likely keep a tally of their usage and subtract from the rebellion score at the end of the AP. My reasoning for this would be the Jade Regent becomes more paranoid and ups the levels of atrocities(Burning villages, executions, ect) he commits while having his armies search about Minkai for the Scions and Ameiko. Having the kingdom in a worse state when the players arrive can negatively affect the overall ending of the adventure and possibly 'strengthen' the final encounter accordingly. My players are scared to use it at the moment, and I want them to keep that feeling.

That is just my thoughts for the moment though, I may(will) adjust it as time goes on.

[SnowHeart]

I absolutely believe this is not only a good idea but is "as intended". If the party's location is revealed to the Oni every time they take the Seal out of the warding box, would the Oni really just go, "Oh, that's interesting," and ignore it? Of course not!

For our last session, a little while after the party had used the Seal to resurrect a fallen party member, I decided the Oni back in Minkai (possibly the oracle mentioned in book 6) had summoned an Incubus to "stop the party". Well, being chaotic evil, the demon took a somewhat open view of what it meant to "stop" the party. He did, in fact, "stop" the caravan when he teleported in front of them -- they ceased their forward momentum. Technically, he accomplished his goal. After that, he hinted the party could either fight or bribe him to leave them alone. They bribed him, but he hinted that it may not be the last time the party encountered him.

[magnuskn]

Rob actually talked about continued usage of the Seal. As far as I understood him, the Oni in Minkai actually are more lax about the constant surveillance they had a few decades before and only the Frozen Shadows are still on the ball about it.

[Quatar]

True, but I bet once they actually figured out that it's still there and someone is using it, they will step up the survailance pretty damn quick again.
So while the first few times you use it, theres a good chance they don't notice you, after maybe the fifth or sixth time, the chances turn and its more likely they notice it.