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Hello, all!
I'm currently DMing book three (Broken Moon) of the Carrion Crown AP. I just thought I would share the return of one of my favorite baddies: Father Charlatan.
The next fight that they were in, when Fivel was dealt ONE damage, I informed him that his character had died and moved the player to a different room. I went back and forth between the player and the group. Fivel was faced with an acolyte of their religion and was being convinced that his true power would be found through accepting death. The party saw that character hit the ground and immediately become wrapped in ghostly chains that attempted to suffocate him. Fivel just barely made enough Will saves to not be convinced to die.
The party survived. Later they take his collection of holy symbols that they find in the evidence room of the prison.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. The party approaches the Stairs of the Moon. A temple to Desna. I ask the party "what gods do all of you follow and do you have a holy symbol of some kind?". Fivel replies "Yeah. I've got, like, all of the holy symbols. I have that necklace with all of the holy symbols on it from the prison". The rest of the party asks him "why do you still have that?! Are you crazy?!"...they all quickly forget
I don't.
Later that session, they activate Desna's temple and talk with the goddess. Fivel gets an additional message where Desna informs him that she sees great potential in him and that she wants him to be her chosen blade. She grants him a permanent +1 DEX.
Father Charlatan is back and he's stronger than before.
The party gets to Feldgrau. As they start clearing out some of the buildings, they come across a chapel of Abadar. I ask every one of them to make a Will save. They fail. Each one of them blacks out and falls to the floor. I hand them each an index card with a vision on it.
Fivel's card says that Desna appears and wishes to make him "Highwayman of the North Star" and grant him all associated benefits. He agrees to this. Desna informs him that all clergy of Desna shall now him by name and help him with whatever he may need...this is not true
Our hunter was the only actual follower of Desna. His vision was Desna, basically, calling him useless and no longer needed for the party now that they have Fivel.
Our party sorcerer had a vision that his family (deceased) wanted him to allow the Whispering Way to succeed and that it was to only way for them to be together again. (He refused to believe it)
Our gnome brawler was approached by Gorum and Irori. They gave him the choice of great physical power or the intelligence to finally fit in with his gnomish brethren. (He refused them both)
Our shaman was was propositioned by Urgathoa to join forces. Their combined, offset powers could bring down the Whispering Way. (he refused her)
Our investigator was offered to have her past revealed by Calistra...This was mostly because this player lost their characters background story and couldn't remember it. (She accepted)
Characters that accepted their new gods had to change their character sheet to reflect this and were given permanent bonuses to their stats. Those that refused, took some stat damage.
They woke up from their visions to the quickly fading sounds of chains rattling.
I can't wait to move this along. Soon, Father Charlatan is going to start blackmailing those characters that accepted bonuses and he's going to start convincing those that refused their visions that their mission/party is not needed.
The best thing: No one suspects a thing.
Oh, I like this. Recurring villains are one of the most memorable things about a campaign, and it's hard for APs to have them (because most of them are overcome and left behind).
