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Has anyone considered offering a female melee based PC a spot in the Gray Maidens (or try out in the process) ?
- Do we know what the full process is (I haven't gone through the later parts of the adventure in detail yet) ?
(I know those that don't pass are killed)
- If I was to offer a PC the opportunity and they agreed (even if just to find out what was going on) how could I get them out of it without revealing what is really going on?
I imagine the set up would potentially have to avoid mentioning the queen (but that might ruin the attraction)
Or is this something I just shouldn't make an option because it would see their character likely removed from the game...?
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Has anyone considered offering a female melee based PC a spot in the Gray Maidens (or try out in the process) ?
- Do we know what the full process is (I haven't gone through the later parts of the adventure in detail yet) ?
(I know those that don't pass are killed)
- If I was to offer a PC the opportunity and they agreed (even if just to find out what was going on) how could I get them out of it without revealing what is really going on?
I imagine the set up would potentially have to avoid mentioning the queen (but that might ruin the attraction)
Or is this something I just shouldn't make an option because it would see their character likely removed from the game...?
Don't do it unless the player is sick of that character, the recruitment/training involves torture, psychological conditioning and minor uses of arcane mind control, it's effectively rendering those who survive an effective automaton unable to question orders
Don't do it unless the player is sick of that character, the recruitment/training involves torture, psychological conditioning and minor uses of arcane mind control, it's effectively rendering those who survive an effective automaton unable to question ordersHas anyone considered offering a female melee based PC a spot in the Gray Maidens (or try out in the process) ?
- Do we know what the full process is (I haven't gone through the later parts of the adventure in detail yet) ?
(I know those that don't pass are killed)
- If I was to offer a PC the opportunity and they agreed (even if just to find out what was going on) how could I get them out of it without revealing what is really going on?
I imagine the set up would potentially have to avoid mentioning the queen (but that might ruin the attraction)
Or is this something I just shouldn't make an option because it would see their character likely removed from the game...?
Ok that is what I thought
I guess I just was wondering what would happen if I started planting seeds of female warriors / guardsmen being offered an opportunity to work for the queen and a player got interested (so more indirect)
I do kind of want to plant some seeds like that so would need to either hope they slightly meta'd it out and stuck with the party or find some way of stopping them before they got into the process...
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I can't really see a Gray Maiden PC working. But there are alternatives: a Korvosan Guard, a Sable company Marine, I've even seen people who've made Hell Knight PCs work.
If you want to give the PCs a more personal connection to the Gray Maidens, have someone they are close to join the ranks. In my campaign a childhood friend even asked the PCs to put in a good word for her with Merrin and the queen to be able to join.
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If you're just looking for foreshadowing, maybe have some female members of the Guard end up being recruited. Then they break off the friendship.
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To play devil's advocate, you could always have the grey maiden project start slower and with a less sinister pedigree. Perhaps in the beginning, the Grey Maidens were Sabrina Merrin's idea as she is concerned she can't guard the queen alone (the king did just get assassinated, so clearly no one is safe).
The very first Grey Maidens therefore are simply patriotic ladies who have some martial skill and answer the call for a new set of royal bodyguards who answer only to the queen. And at the start, Ileosa sees the benefit of having more bodies between her and any would-be assassins until she's strong enough to obviously not need them (say, the start of Book 3 ;) ). Until that point she's willing to bide her time, and start slowly with converting the Grey Maidens into her brainwashed toy soldiers. One goes missing from their post every now and then, only to return a few days later dazed and bearing fresh scars, and a new unshakable loyalty in the queen. And then, gradually, Ileosa stops hiding her nature at the same time as the Grey Maiden Project ramps up into its full horrifying winnowing functionality.
You could potentially have some fun cat and mouse games with a grey maiden PC serving in the castle and gradually realizing that they're working for a monster, ahead or alongside the revelations of the plague and who really killed Eodred.
The one big issue you might have though is why and how this grey maiden PC is adventuring along with the party - unless of course it was Ileosa's idea all along. Her representative within the party - and, of course, her spy to quietly report what the party is up to. These are dangerous times, after all, and the PCs *did* prove themselves by returning her brooch and helping the city guard. They should be watched. Carefully.
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These are interesting possibilities. However :
My thoughts were not really about actually having a Gray Maiden PC
It was more if I employ some of the techniques mentioned in the above three posts there is a chance that a female PC might think of following the same route.
If they were how could they be steered away without spoiling too much. Inspectre's idea arguably reveals the nature of the maidens too early
I am thinking more if there is discussion about friends or existing female guards seeking out this opportunity in book 1.
As an aside :
My group haven't really delved into PCs pre-existing friends / connections in the city. This should be something all should have, being from there.
How have people managed this? Have they come up with the connections or allowed the players to put it in the backstory / asked for the players to come up with some.
I am trying to work out how to limit the benefits of a player whose backstory is elven "noble" (rich parents trait) - I figure elves are peripheral enough that they don't have significant influence. But he is trying to head to his family "estate" during the riots and it would seem a bit weak to allow a base of operations to be set there (I have currently blocked access with hellknights on the gates)
It is quite complex to try and bring the city alive. Much different to an adventure hook where you bring together some wandering wannabe Pathfinders...
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As written and presented in the AP, I don't see how this would work without making alterations to the Gray Maidens and their induction process. A Gray Maiden PC would be at odds with the rest of the party, or she wouldn't really be a Gray Maiden.
If you're just looking for foreshadowing, maybe have some female members of the Guard end up being recruited. Then they break off the friendship.
I've done this. I had "Captain Tisharue" of the Korvosan Guard interfacing with the PCs so that when she's recruited and encountered later, it'll feel a bit more impactful.
-Skeld