Getting Evil With Linguistics

[Nearyn]

Imagine for a moment that you're playing a level 4 Asmodean cleric, waging a shadow-war on a nation of angel-worshipping do-gooders. The government is hereditary monarchy, and despite permitting other good/neutral religions, Iomedae-worship is the absolute #1 across the nation.

So it's you and your fellow evil-doers vs the world, and the nation in question is an isolated island-kingdom far away from everything. Still, you do not give up, you're gonna corrupt and take over this nation for the glory of Asmodeus.

Now imagine you happen to have a +10 bonus on your linguistics checks. What would you do with this skill? What documents would you forge, and why? How would you remind this Lawful Good island, that the pen is mightier than the sword?

Thank you for your input :)

-Nearyn

[Gilarius]

Way of the Wicked?

As the island-kingdom is Lawful Good, forging title deeds for various barons showing that someone else owns the land is an obvious starting point. I wouldn't do similar things to the royal family yet, not until you're high enough level to survive retribution.

The hard part might be squaring your actions with your own Lawful-ness, since you'll be spreading chaos...

[Majuba]

Corrupting the Barons by offering them such documents seems more evil to me.

[Third Mind]

Sounds fun.

The main thing I'd have to take into account, is if there's something that could be considered proof that the forged document is real. This could be fixed in that you send them the evidence. Although this isn't always or even sometimes doable.

Note: These are just ideas off the top of my head and thus there may be some plot holes I've missed. I don't even know if they'd work.

First:

- I could see sending someone high in position, perhaps in the temple of Iomedae or in political power, maybe even a captain of the guard a crate that had an idol of one of the many evil gods as well as some instruments of torture or sacrilege. The crate itself could have a vaguely evil looking symbol to grab the attention of whomever.

Make sure it's delivered during the day, and of course to the wrong individual and attach a note (forged) saying something like, "[Persons Name], Each and every one of the items that you had ordered in your note are in the crate. I've made sure of that myself. However, we've included your note (the forged one) that you sent in case you wish to double check for yourself. Thank you so very much for your patronage. We hope that you shop with us again in the future. - Will's Shop of Incredibly Evil Stuff."

Of course you'd have to do your research and send it to someone nosey, would also be beneficial to have the handwriting of the person you forged, which I suppose may not be possible if they're on an island and don't send out notes.

This could potentially take out a big piece from their board. Could be he's replaced with an equal or stronger piece. Or maybe if you're lucky a weaker piece.

Second:

- I'd probably attack their supply lines. At least those coming and going using ship. Sending a formal looking letter from a higher up to as many of the supply ships as one can find. Telling them something that will keep them away for quite some time. Perhaps sending them into a storm or better yet a port that you prepare for raiding and capturing, with the idea that they're to be picking up some new kinds of supplies that the kingdom desperately needs. They'd have to be told to leave immediately, with zero delay that very minute to avoid them asking questions.

Third:

- Another way to implicate a person or even a few if done well, is write the nastiest, evil most vile things about the city in infernal or abyssal language. If the DM allows, perhaps you can forge their handwriting into abyssal. Have the letters also imply that they're either secretly in cahoots with demons and such, maybe even they're possessed. You could maybe even have multiples of these letters sent out, with different forgeries per person to various people in the city. Implying a mass possessing that can only be cleansed through death. (Have to figure out a way that would make those that punish the evil do so with little questioning admittedly.) Unlikely to work really, but fun IMO.

Fourth:

- Send an official looking note that all statues honoring Iomedae are to be removed immediately and destroyed as prayer to Iomedae herself, has found that these statues are distasteful and dishonorable to Iomdedae. This is to be done as quickly as possible, without delay or question, to appease Iomedae. Probably best sent to the average worker, stone mason, even those with explosives if applicable.

[FuelDrop]

Bust out some criminals by forging transfer orders and getting some friends to dress up as members of the city watch? It's as good a way as any to recruit for any scheme you're cooking up.

[Nearyn]

Excellent ideas. Also, good guess Gilarius.

I was considering creating an organization of my own, and no matter what I'll need morally bland people to do legwork, so FuelDrop's idea of setting loose criminals sits wel with me. Mixing Gilarius and Majubas ideas would lead to me forging documents that indicates that the present allocation of land is unfair, and using that to create internal strife between those tasked with maintaining order is potentially very useful.

Third Mind, I like all of your ideas. I'm definitely going to try them out in-game, just a minor tweak here and there, and I'm sure they'll do wonder.

-Nearyn

[lemeres]

Majuba wrote:

Corrupting the Barons by offering them such documents seems more evil to me.

'Conveniently' showing some barons that the border lines between their land and their neighbors' lands were 'misdrawn', and that they in fact owned a much larger area seems like a good way to go. Remember, barbecue sauce can be a great way to make things look more aged (don't do this with Barons well known for keeping dogs though; I would hate for your homework to get eaten).

Once you get that idea into their head, they will begin to squabble among each other over these petty disputes. Hmmm....maybe insert yourself in as a 'problem solver'.

You see, if you use a disguise/3rd party to deliver the 'original documents', then no one should associate you with them, right? If you come in as a 'impartial expert', you could then offer to examine the documents for authenticity. After showing how they are obvious lies, you are suddenly someone that has done the people in power (and all the neighboring barons) a great favor. Accept offers to dinners and parties, and try to offer your services as much as possible. As a follower of Asmodeus, I hope that you could find a way to capitalize on this.

Of course, this might be tricky for a cleric though (the whole 'unspeakable aura of evil' thing that lights a paladin's detect spells up like a Christmas tree, compounded by the fact that you likely lack the magic to hide that currently), as well as someone who may or may not be playing Way of the Wicked (being Ultra Super Wanted as the only people to escape Super Jail makes this strategy moot if every guard in the country has your portrait by their bedside as they dream of the reward). Still, you can make the fake documents, and you can tell someone with a good bluff check about the clues that reveal how they are fake. Even behind the scenes, you could find ways to make this work.