In my game, the mage has been apprenticed to a local school of fire wizards. To advance from Ember (apprentice) to Flame (full mage), he needs to first complete The 5 Trials / The 5 Tests.
But what should they be? It should be low-level but not easy or without danger. And preferably something that requires more than simple attack rolls, skill rolls or casting of a spell or cantrip.
I am looking for something that will make it a good story but also will not side-treck the entire party for weeks. Something that we can say happen during Downtime but which will add to the character's story and give me a chance to interject some additional NPC's, quest clues, background stuff, plot lines etc.
The generic names would of course be something like:
The Test of Guile
The Test of Strength
The Test of Will
The Test of...?
But what sort of tasks would the apprentice be required to perform for the wizardly order? Something that would make them see him as fit to join them and be initiated into their secrets?
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1. Test of Endurance. Requires enduring extreme heat for a specific amount of time.
2. Test of Strength. A test that proves their ability to create and maintain fire in the unfavorable conditions, for example in a sauna full of water vapor.
3. Test of Precision. A test that measures their finesse control over fire. It would require the apprentice to create a burn mark of a specific shape. The apprentice may need first to figure out the correct symbol using their knowledge.
4. Test of Speed. Fire slinging. The aprentice needs to lit up several targets in quick succession.
5. Test of Wit. Subjugating a fire elemental. The fire elemental in question was called by one of the senior mages, but was left unbound. The apprentice must make the elemental obey him, at least long enough to perform some simple, specific task.
What level is this apprentice? That'll determine a lot of what sorts of trials or tests will be appropriate.
Well, as I said, I am looking for trials/tests that are not level-specific but will make a good story no matter what level. Don't think in terms of having to 'defeat monster X' but rather 'defeat monster X because of Y' and it is the Y that is important to the story - tying the test to becoming a full member of the school of fire mages.
As I said, I am looking for fluff inspiration, not a game technical way of handling it :-)
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Test of Sacrifice: if the school demands utter devotion then the mage sacrifices something to the fires and is judged based on how unique it is and how important it is to said mage. An artwork, a magic item, a mother-in-law, the mage's own hand... I don't know how dark you want to go.
Test of Focus: the ability to maintain concentration while being well and truly distracted.
Test of Strategy: apparently just a test involving a strategy game, but difficulties such as pieces being burned up, smoke obscuring the board and the room being set on fire and the mage will actually be judged on how they handle those rather than winning the game.