Need help to formulate details for an epic ritual

[JH-M]

I am not used to write in forums, so please excuse any mistakes in formality I might make.

Here is the idea: My PC is a Witch bound to a patron named "Hhaaashh-Lusss, Lord Duke of Reptiles" (Which I have stolen shamelessly from a Dungeon Crawl Classics book). This being gets his powers from "promoting the interests of all scaly things that creep and crawl through desert, sea and swamp", and is therefore planning to use me as an unwilling pawn (at first) to turn everyone in a major city in the game into reptilian beings of some kind.

I just don't know what that ritual should entail.

I only have 2 ideas so far:
1: it should involve the placement of something at important points around the affected area

2: one material component is a dragon egg (eggs symbolize rebirth, and dragons are very magical)

Any input or suggestions would be appreciated, but the ritual should be something I work towards either accomplishing or preventing as a campaign end goal.

Thank you for the help.

[OmegaZ]

So it sounds like you'll be doing a "Mass Polymorph" effect. A ritual to do regular Polymorph wouldn't be terribly difficult (depending on your level), but to do it on the scale of a major city would be an epic undertaking. Here are a few ideas:

-Your character will need to be a pretty high level to pull this off. The amount of magical oomph and control required will be very high.

-You'll likely need several helpers with the ritual to chant, perform skill checks, etc. The party will likely help, but I imagine you'll want followers too.

-If your DM is worth their salt, they'll throw some heroes against you to prevent you from accomplishing your ritual. Be prepared for this.

-As you are forcing hundreds/thousands of people to shapeshift against their will, your alignment will shift to some flavor of Evil real fast (assuming it isn't already there).

[Guardianlord]

OmegaZ wrote:

So it sounds like you'll be doing a "Mass Polymorph" effect. A ritual to do regular Polymorph wouldn't be terribly difficult (depending on your level), but to do it on the scale of a major city would be an epic undertaking. Here are a few ideas:

-Your character will need to be a pretty high level to pull this off. The amount of magical oomph and control required will be very high.

-You'll likely need several helpers with the ritual to chant, perform skill checks, etc. The party will likely help, but I imagine you'll want followers too.

-If your DM is worth their salt, they'll throw some heroes against you to prevent you from accomplishing your ritual. Be prepared for this.

-As you are forcing hundreds/thousands of people to shapeshift against their will, your alignment will shift to some flavor of Evil real fast (assuming it isn't already there).

Building on this:

-Blood/scales/organs of some great reptiles as a major power component, preferably fresh (requiring gentle repose or similar effects).
A Basilisk or a Dracolisk would be great candidates.

-Maybe a placement of blood/stone runes throughout the city at key junctions for focusing the spell.

-I assume some kind of magical reservoir could help focus your magical oomph. Maybe some kind of channeling crystal (either crafted or stolen, and then charged somehow).

-Candles.

[Java Man]

For major rituals like this I think of sacrifice and sympathy.

I picture changing one being, the sacrifice, that is representing or tied to the populace of the city. If there is already someone who is ritually the father/mother/ embodiement of the city they would be perfect. (like the Arthurian conceit of the king and the land are one).

Or maybe you mark the population with the blood or sigil of the subject, or to be ritually adopted by the subject.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Curve ball: other ways you might achieve the same mass polymorph:

1. Venomous bite: being that your patron favors reptiles perhaps you need to craft a rare type of snake or something that slays and "remakes" beings into it's likeness, and then the more it makes the more biters you have

2. A curse: like the biting above, but like Lycanthropy. Perhaps your character voluntarily takes on the curse, then passes it on to others in the city

3. Naga cults: rather than placing eggs at key locales you've got cells of naga cults in said locales who will transform small groups within their vicinity simultaneously, at an appointed time

4. Divine retribution: your PC goes before the local authorities, clerics, whatever, and asks that reptiles be given special dispensation by the city. When they refuse, your PC goes through the city marking the doors of the citizens with a symbol of Hhaaashh-Lusss with snake poison. In the morning the children of these families have all been transformed into snake-people

[VoodistMonk]

Leave a trail of enchanted scales, winding through the streets of the city. You leave one scale every 5' you travel, every full movement speed you travel, you take one unavoidable point of HP damage, as the scales for this ritual form of your own flesh before shedding.

From somewhere secluded outside the city you cut your hand, spilling blood on the Dragon egg. As you start to recite your prayers, peering into the infinite visions of reptilian glory presented in the reflection of the bloody egg, the skies over the city darken and it starts to rain exact replicas of the scales you left.

Anyone hit by even a single scale immediately starts to grow scales starting where ever the first scale hits.

Only divine intervention, a miracle, or a wish can reverse this transformation after 24 hours. Spellcasters of your level or higher can attempt a save to heal themselves, OR one other person, with a DC equal to 10 + 1/2 your caster level + your Intelligence modifier.

Everyone transformed gains some skill that makes sense to your theme, a drawback of some sort, and maybe a small ability score modifier. Like Know:Arcana because dragons, Constitution +1, Intelligence -1, or something like that.

[Meirril]

This is something that really needs to be worked out between the GM and the player, but a few ideas:

1. Targets of the ritual need to "accept" it. While they might not know what acceptance does, caring a focus of some sort like a necklace or bracelet or having a symbol tattooed on them could signify acceptance.

2. Or force it on them. Work with the GM to research the ritual as a new spell. This will cost gold and time so be prepared to spend both. Expect some sort of focus and material component you have to adventure for.

3. You might need to form a cult to create the right conditions for the ritual. That also means creating altars, statues and other decorations as well as a 'temple' somewhere. Bonus points if you disguise it as the fountain you're donating to the city and work out a way to have your cult worship in the open without anyone realizing what they are doing.

4. It could even go to the point where you have to convert the entire city to openly worship your patron. Hope you have a good charisma.

5. You may need to enlist the assistance of a reptilian race. Kobolts, Lizardmen and even Serpentfolk are possible.