Hats off to Stephen, who put me through my first and only test of high sorcery, introduced dragonlance to me, and served as my role-model for designing this test.
You know who you are, if you read this.
The player was an elven black mage hopeful, although he wasn't telling anyone that yet.
Four companions agreed to risk death and help him. Two of the companions died, and one came very close, but stabilized.
The first test was in an arena. Of his four companions, two of them appeared beside him, and two of them were no-where to be seen. In the middle of the arena was a large pool of water, and on the opposite side was an ogre standing in front of a door.
Also visible at each of the four corners of the arena, is an elevated platform 5'ft high. Unseen from below, two levers were attached to the wall in each corner that you could reach if you climbed the platform. On the wizard's side of the arena, also hidden from view, was a crossbow and a coil of rope on top of one of the platforms.
Unknown to the wizard, an invisible magical barrier divided the arena in half, except for a lone square in the middle-ceiling section.
His first attempt to cast a spell on the creature failed, because solid barriers - even invisible ones - block the passage of magic. He was confused.
The comrade barbarian gave a mighty leap over the water toward the ogre and...smack....slides down....blub blub
The ogre tried to circle around the water, and ran into the solid barrier also.
After a brief investigation, the wizard discovers the levers...he pulls one.
An earth elemental appears on his side, and starts attacking his companions.
Oops.
The ogre, seeing how effective that was, runs over to a lever on his side, and pulls it.
One of the wizard's comrades, a knight, appears - on the ogre's side.
Both sides battle, the knight is almost killed but stabilizes.
The wizard eventually figured out about the hole, and that he could cross by summoning a flying creature strong enough to carry him through the hole. Victory!
Second test - this was really good, and we spent a few hours roleplaying it out.
He was in a different time, in a different place. He was older, more experienced, a master of one of the towers, controlled by the elves. In this future time and place, practically all of the elves in Krynn have been killed. He and the last of his guard, some 32 male and female elves, are in his tower. Outside, they are surrounded by a minotaur army.
Conditions
The last living royal heir of the elves is in the tower. At his option, the elf's identity could be kept secret from the others.
In the basement of the tower is a cache of powerful magical items collected over the ages, which the minotaurs intend to capture. The existance of this basement is concealed, and unknown to the other elven guards.
He has a one-use item, a magic crystal that will allow the teleportation of two people or objects to safety (or one person and one object).
He has a spell that will level the tower in a massive explosion, killing all within close proximity to the tower
He has, at most, a few hours to handle the situation during the lull in the battle.
He has a key ring, and he is the only one who can lock or unlock any of the doors in the tower. There is a door to each level of the tower.
Those who chose to assist him, found themselves in the bodies of some of the elven guards (not the heir).
The wizard's choices to handle the situation were as follows.
He teleported the heir away to safety
...
He told the others of his options, seeking advice, and opened the basement up so that the remaining guards could outfit themselves with the stored magical equipment, so that they would have a chance, however slim.
He refused to initiate any parlay with the minotaurs
Through discussion, it was realized - oh, they better send a female elf with the heir to ensure the survival of the race.
...
They teleport a female elf to safety.
...
With good teamwork and leadership, and accepting of counsel, they devised a plan of escape. They would magically disguise themselves as minotaurs and make themselves invisible, then leave the keep. When they were a safe enough distance away, the wizard would level the tower with his spell.
...
During the process of the invisible wizard's spellcasting, the minotaurs heard the invisible intruder, and let loose dogs to track the invisible person. Moments before the dogs leapt upon him, he levelled the tower with his spell. The dogs tore him to shreds.
Two of the players, who's characters were in the bodies of elves, for some reason decided to stay behind at the tower, and were subsequently annihilated in the blast - killing them.
At the end of this test, I informed the black-mage hopeful that he had become a white-robe.
I also informed him, that he was emotionally traumatized by his future 'death', and would forever be panicked at the sight of canines.
There was some debate as to whether his actions were that of a red-robe or white-robe, but I eventually settled on white-robe.
Due to time constraints, we stopped there, but he actually does have one more test to complete, solo, and it will be on the RD&DA boards if anyone cares to watch. Nothing nearly as exciting as the previous two tests, I expect, but we'll see.
Just thought I'd share, and give a big THANK YOU to those who put the tests of high sorcery into Dragonlance and into roleplay!
Originally posted by Halabis
Nice test, although I definatly wouldn't give him the white robes. I would actualy have a difficult time deciding between black or red. I mean he did kill lots of innocent elves with his spell, and his friends. Sure he saved 2 elves and himself, but that can be chalked up to racial pride, wich even evil people can have.
Actually, I think that they all turned invisible, including the other elves, and they escaped together. The only one's he killed were his companions, and that was their choice to stay behind.
Through his willingness to work in conjunction with his comrades, and by preserving the elven race by saving the royal member and not just his own skin, he really showed much compassion and farsightedness. That would really make him a white robe, there is the possibility of changing him to red depending on his last test, because he was not willing to parlay with the minotaurs and he attempted to attack the creatures in the first test right away without trying to find other means of survival, which he ended up doing in the end anyway. But he should defintely be either white or red. Good job
Using the items found in the basement, they made all 30-odd elves invisible and disguised. The only ones who died were the two who chose to stay behind for some reason, and the wizard. Since they were invisible, nobody noticed they hadn't left.
The refusal to negotiate with the minotaurs was the very reason for the debate between a result of white and red robes. You're right on.
also, Thankyou!
I did pick up something nice earlier on the board tho. About telling every other players about this session being his test, without the Wiz player knowing it... Might try it.
If not, this is what should happen :
He gets to the tower (Actually, we left last session when he was almost before the gate of the tower)
He study a little more before going in for the test and meet with his former mentor who help him get settled.
1st test : Casting all his spells in front of the Conclave since adding a new wizard to the conclave is a huge event. I planned on letting him do this by making a Spellcraft check DC 10 + spell level. He will have to have a 80% succes mark.
2nd test : Something about ally, no clue
3rd test : Battle vs an Bozak Draconian that he will have to defeat anyway he choose.
4th test : The mystery one, no clue.
Of course all of these are from my 2nd editions DL TofL.
Any idea?
Thanks
XIII
*EDIT : scrapped the battle vs aurak and changed it for Bozak, fairer to the player =) *