I'm playing in a home campaign of
I am playing an 8th level psychic and have a very high bluff and linguistics. I have forged some diplomatic credentials and have layed some ground work for taking over as the new counselor.
I intend on using my position to:
Exert influence on the city
Have regular access to the Lord Mayor
Be a potential receiver of locals who are "special problems" and need "extra attention"
(Hopefully having captured party members/allies turned over to him for interrogation)
Shipments in and out of the city may be covered by diplomatic immunity
Do you see any potential pitfalls or potential advantages that may come from this strategy?
Can you think of ways to gain further use from this ruse?
RL diplomatic credentials have to be accepted by the hosting nation. If the same applies where you are there might be a problem if they've never heard of you. Worse, of course, if they have. Disguising yourself might also be necessary.
You might possibly have a lot of embassy work to do, hiring some staff to deal with run of the mill business while you attend cocktail parties seems like a good idea. Re that last you're going to need knowledge (nobility).
Fair points,
As to the credentials, I am assuming that they will be accepted. They are very good forgeries, but as you state, the acceptance is important.
As to the disguise, I intend on marionette possessing a body and disguising that body up quite a bit. We are playing the campaign pretty intrigue heavy, so most of these skills have been made pretty high.
As to the host having heard of me, I have been writing some initial correspondence "between" the Umbral Court and the Lord Mayor. So that he has at least heard of the identity I will be assuming.
Hiring the staff is as of yet an unsolved problem. I could hire "host nation nationals" for some of the work, but I will need some staff.
There's a lot to a con like this. Forged papers are only the beginning There area also potential complications... such as if the real ambassador shows up.
You're also trying to impersonate a Nidalese... which means you need a lot of supporting cast in.... painful positions.
There's a lot to a con like this. Forged papers are only the beginning There area also potential complications... such as if the real ambassador shows up.
You're also trying to impersonate a Nidalese... which means you need a lot of supporting cast in.... painful positions.
*cricket noise*
-Kjeldorn stares angrily at the cricket-
What!? I liked it!
I have thought about willing accomplices and the use of the spell delay pain.
As far as the real ambassador, some effort will need to go into ensuring he does not return. I think I will need to scry him (using some of his possessions from the embassy) and see what he is up to. My understanding was that it was shut down to the instability of the region. It was never clear what happened to him after he left.
|
You also have to deal with the use of magic, the higher level, the worse it gets. If there is even the slightest concern about the Ambassador you could face problems (or even just if the people you're trying to fool are paranoid) such as Commune and Augury, but these are just the start of your worries. Then there's the possibility that all Ambassadors identities are registered at the capital and a quick Sending is used to confirm they are who they say, Zone of Truth, etc.
Whilst this may seem like too much effort bear in mind not only the nation you're in but the situation you're involved in, paranoia is the name of the game for an already paranoid nation (and one that at higher levels has a vast amount of Communes available via Imps).
Now, as to getting around that, constant nondetection is a good start ("Normal procedure after Ambassador X was assassinated 20 years ago my dear."), if you can get your hands on some Shadow Piercings that might really help sell the disguise as well. If you're able to manage it, killing the actual Ambassador should he try and return will definitely be useful (if you do, keep his clothes, etc and maybe even some of... him, on you to help trick scrying spells etc).
As to staff, I'd definitely hire locals and not Nidalese, they're far more likely to see through your attempts to act like one of them than people who don't know anything about the nations culture. Explain it away as 'supporting the local economy' or something suitably fawning to the Chelish.
I see only one major problem. One day GM will decide to pull the rug under you, and Nidalese government would not be amused with the con. But hey, it would be fun to cool them down from "This Incident merits an invasion" to "meh, we'll just hire Red Mantises to deal with the person in question".
Non detection is a must, it's one of my favorite spells and I'll keep it up until mindblank comes online.
We have a line on some fetchlings that are sympathetic to our cause. We may end up utilizing them for our staff.
As for the DM eventually pulling the rug out from underneath. That is always the concern. The Lord Mayor cares a great deal about his own reputation. I may be able to convince the DM that he would try to deal with it "in house" or at least secretly in order to save face. That and by possessing someone else's body, hopefully I will mitigate some of the risk taken.
The thing you have going for you in trying this deception is that if you don't give anyone a reason to doubt you are who you say you are, they won't. Not normally anyway. When you go to an embassy do you think "is this the embassy or a fake embassy?".
Also, long distance communication does not exist in the easy and reliable form it does in the real world. Sure some people can use magic to do it, spellcasters and those rich enough to hire them.
I would talk to your GM about the idea. If they react like I do, it is a novel and interesting idea and you should get away with it if you are competent, go for it. If they start pointing out every manner of difficulty, or discouraging it, think of something else.
I would encourage it. It is ingenious and gets right away from being a murder hobo.
The thing you have going for you in trying this deception is that if you don't give anyone a reason to doubt you are who you say you are, they won't. Not normally anyway. When you go to an embassy do you think "is this the embassy or a fake embassy?".
Also, long distance communication does not exist in the easy and reliable form it does in the real world. Sure some people can use magic to do it, spellcasters and those rich enough to hire them.
I would talk to your GM about the idea. If they react like I do, it is a novel and interesting idea and you should get away with it if you are competent, go for it. If they start pointing out every manner of difficulty, or discouraging it, think of something else.
I would encourage it. It is ingenious and gets right away from being a murder hobo.
I get the feeling he kind of likes the idea. But I'm not sure if it is because he thinks it will work or if he is playing coy and thinks it will be a great trap. Either way, I look forward to it playing out. :)