Hi everyone,
I'm wondering if I can get some feedback and opinions regarding the Gray Gardeners, Norgorber and the Dread Dungeons. Soon my PCs will be heading to the Dread Dungeons in an effort to rescue the one person who can return Galt to a state of peace and prosperity, and I have some questions.
First, I'm in the belief that Norgorber controls or at least heavily influences the Gray Gardeners. For my game, I'm assuming they combine his aspects as the Reaper of Reputation and the Gray Master, except instead of focusing on stealing wealth, they focus on stealing souls with the final blades. The Norgorber connection is at least evident with the Gray Gardener Inquisitor of Norgorber in the Inner Sea NPC codex.
With this in mind, I'm also looking at Primarch Bremovir, the individual in charge of the Dread Dungeons. As from established sources, he seems to be a trickster of sorts, distaining the use of the guillotines, finding/building the Dungeons, grooming a double to die to a final blade and then escaping with a good amount of Galt's treasury. I'm wondering if I should have him be a follower of Norgorber as well, specifically in his aspect as the Reaper of Reputation, however I'm wondering how to justify his removal of power in Galt when his faith is similar to the Gray Gardeners, the true power behind Galt?
Another idea I had was to possibly make the Primarch a servant of Abadar who was eventually corrupted by Norgorber himself.
Does anyone have any thoughts or ideas regarding this subject?
Thanks!
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I'd actually be inclined to argue that the Grey Gardeners as such are not religious. Many might worship one of many Gods, but I get the impression their goals are more secular, and they're simply willing to accept people of many faiths. Not all Evil needs to be at the behest of something other than the ambition and cruelty of human beings. This attitude seems likely to appeal to followers of Norgorber and several other Evil Gods, however.
Bremovir sounds like prime candidate for a Norgorber follower, though.
I'd actually be inclined to argue that the Grey Gardeners as such are not religious. Many might worship one of many Gods, but I get the impression their goals are more secular, and they're simply willing to accept people of many faiths. Not all Evil needs to be at the behest of something other than the ambition and cruelty of human beings. This attitude seems likely to appeal to followers of Norgorber and several other Evil Gods, however.
Bremovir sounds like prime candidate for a Norgorber follower, though.
The way I'm sort of looking at how the Gardener's operate is essentially overseen by Norgorber in the higher tiers. As the class requires divine ability, the spin I'm putting on it is anyone can join, but the highest, most powerful Gray Gardeners know the truth about Norgorber's faith; non-worshippers who are Gardeners are good cover for the secrecy as a whole.
At the moment I'm a bit stuck on Bremovir. I know I'd like him to follow Norgorber now, but I'm not sure if I should keep him a life-long follower or have him once have been an Abadaran. The idea is sort of as follows:
Bremovir began as a LE cleric of Abadar (perhaps separatist archetype, so already a bit in trouble with the church itself) who comes to power in Galt, originally distaining the use of the final blades to bring "proper" civilization to Galt and not rely on such barbaric punishment methods. Though Bremovir himself is not a good example, and skirts the edge of faith and heresy. Perhaps Abadar was hoping to see what he could possibly accomplish in troubled Galt and allowed him the spells. Over the years he progressively falls more and more into Norgorber's sway.
Meanwhile, the 'informant' that tips the Primarch off with the impending coup, I've come with is a Gray Gardener who is a LN follower of Abadar (or perhaps a non-affiliated oracle) who originally joined the Gardener's to affect positive change, and carefully moved up their ranks. The high-ranking Gardener's allowed this, perhaps to keep cover of the true faith and to use the aspirant in various ways. This particular Gardener saw noble purpose in Bremovir (with possibly shared faiths) and helped him out. When they get to the dread dungeons after the coup, the Gardener reveals to his erstwhile ally that they should return and finally put an end to the Gardeners themselves and destroy the final blades. As a high-level member of their organization, he knows how. However, Norgorber doesn't allow this and Bremovir has him imprisoned within the Dread Dungeons, to 'keep the secret'. Now, that former Gardener is Galt's one true hope at finding peace. He knows what the Gardener's are, and how to destroy the blades and bring their power base to an end. The Primarch, for his part, has finally fallen over to Norgorber's worship, perhaps reluctantly so, now sitting upon treasures he stole, with no ability to rule and a life divided by choices and conflict from two faiths.
My other idea was having Bremvior be a Gray Gardener himself; he plays two rolls, one as a Gardener, the other as Bremvior, wanting power in both places. He reasoned if he could control the Revolutionary council and the Gray Gardeners, he would have the ability to weather both storms. Somewhere along the way however, Bremvior's secret becomes revealed and he's ousted from both organizations, and he flees to his dungeons. In this scenario, the important prisoner that has Galt's freedom in his hands could perhaps be Hosetter, one of the original revolutionaries, that the Primarch released from the final blade, as an insurance policy to have him help cement Galt under his rule.
What do you think?