One of my players is going to be taking the test within the next week or so. From looking at some of the post I've seen here I've taken (ok, stole!) some of the ideas I liked and tailored them to suit the PC. I've also included the possible out comes in determining his Robe.
Any suggestions or advise is welcome.
- The PC (a male Silvinesti) is visited by the ghost of dead lover (tied to PC back story) in the middle of the night. She tells him that her soul has been captured by one of the Silvinesti’s oldest foes. Before she can tell who an imp appears shredding her image and attacks. Before the imp (or a similar creature) is killed it tips PC off that his lover’s soul can be found in the sewers of Al Khurmain. The PC should and will be without spells at this point. (Combat with out magic)
-The PC reaches an area in sewers of Al Khurmain, where he sees a small opening. A dozen or so people are inside, but a large man is stuck in the opening his head and mouth outside. The sewer water is rising and the large man blocks the exit so that nobody can exit. Manages to save everyone (White) Kills the large man to save the others (Red) Leaves them to all die (Black). Not original but I liked this idea when I saw it posted. I'm also considering changing the large man to 2 or 3 elves who are stuck in the opening instead. The PC has a great love of his people.
-PC encounters a Knight of the Thorn in the sewers spying on the Steel Legion. Knight attacks PC to make sure his presents goes undetected. (Magic Duel)
-PC runs across a Steel Legion member who is being attacked by a sewer dwelling creature. As PC goes to assist a magical looking staff can be seen floating down the drainage way. The wizard must choose to either assist the SL or go after the staff. If he chooses the staff the Legionnaire dies. If he aids the Legionnaire the staff is lost. Aids the Legionnaire (White) manages to get staff and aid Legionnaire(next to impossible!) (Red) Goes for the staff only (Black)
-Towards the end of the test the PC encounters Cyan Bloodbane (lose part of PC back story) in the sewers and tells PC that he has two choices: forsake magic forever and he’ll release lover’s soul otherwise he’ll banish it to the Abyss to be forever lost. He will insist that the PC takes out his own eyes to ensure he is true to his word (The idea being that without eyes he can't memorize spells). Attacks Cyan knowing him and his love will lost (Red) Out right refuses (Black) takes out his eyes to save lover’s soul (White)
I realize I need to add a few more challenges but this is what I've got so far.
Suggestions welcome
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can have the PC wizard enter into conflict with a known ally? Especially if its being run as a solo adventure. Should I allow him to bring one of the PC party member along? If so what are some examples of how to get them into a confrontation with one another?
Suggestions welcome
If he does not choose to take his eyes out to save his lover's soul, his lover's ghost could return quite angry and provide the conflict with a known (although dead) ally.....
Looks like a good test so far!
If he does not choose to take his eyes out to save his lover's soul, his lover's ghost could return quite angry and provide the conflict with a known (although dead) ally.....
Looks like a good test so far!
Not a bad idea. But I think the PC wizard is going to bring one of the other PC's (A KoS).
What I'm thinking of doing goes along these lines:
During the test the PC wizard and the PC KoS enter a camber in the sewers. In this chamberare rugs, tapestries, two flaming braziers, and a lone table with two huge magical tomes. As the PC's go to check out the tomes two fire minions leap from the braziers and attack the KoS "only". As they enter into melee the rugs and tapestries catch fire and the room will soon become consumed by flames as well as the tomes.The PC wizard now has to choose to either save the tomes leaving the PC KoS to fend for himself against the minions or let them burn in order to aid is ally. If the PC lets the tomes burn to aid ally (White), If the wizard needs to be beseeched by the KoS to aid him (Red), Leaves KoS PC out right to save tomes (Black). The PC KoS will also be scared with burn marks if the Wizard chooses to save the tomes (-1 Chr). This should leave some long lasting animosity between the KoS and the Wizard.
If anybody has any other suggestion as how to get a conflict going between them I'm all ears (Errr.. I mean eyes). :P
Giving up his eyes to save his lover should be AUTOMATIC TEST FAILURE! The point is "Does he care about magic more than anything else". Incidently, i like it, but that's the problem i see. Still looks like a good test, if inclining him in the direction of the Black Robes. Incidently, does he know Reduce? If he does, he could use that to shrink the large man/one of the elves so the people can get out. Anyway, nice Test idea, but i think your emphasizing too much on what order and not enough on wether he is loyal enough to handle the magic. My $0.02
Bingo! The tests for loyalty and robe color should be seperate tests. Trying to smash them together confuses the PC, I've found. PC's will argue with you if they get a red robe when they think they should have gotten a white or black, if you confuse the issue of loyalty/devotion to magic and alignment and morality. Try to seperate the two and you should be OK. It might make the test a little longer, adding another 2 or 3 encounters/puzzles, but in the end it will be well worth it.
For instance we'll use the tome test. First off, does the PC know whether or not the tome is magical? Second, has he been sent for it? Third, does he know he's taking the test? Fourth, if "Yes", did he explain the risks to his companion? If "No", then I wouldn't really physcially harm his companion. Let's, for the sake of arguement, assume that the tome is magical, that he was sent to retrieve it for one reason or another, he does know he's taking his test, and did inform his companion of the consequences/risks.
First off, very important, you need to determine exactly how many rounds the PC has before the tomes catch fire and keep track of it. Let the PC know how quickly the fire is spreading throughout the encounter. Next, the PC should have been qiven a clue or two about what spells should have been prepared at his rest area. Leave him a riddle, have a sage or someone tell him something that will help, have him be troubled by dreams of fire and he cannot do anything about due to not have spells to combat it, or if nothing else, have him find a scroll with a spell that will assist him. Then should he fail to prepare properly, he is to blame for anything that happens to the KoS and the tomes. The Test is about proper use and prepartation of magic. The rest areas are much more than areas to heal and rememorize. They are a place for reflection on mistakes made during the last phase and a place to prepare for the next phase.
To the issue of saving the tomes or the KoS. Should he leave the tomes to burn and help his ally instead, then he automatically fails that particuar test. If he grabs the tomes throws them out of harms way and then assists the KoS give him points toward white. If he grabs the tomes makes sure they're safe then returns, red. If he saves the tomes, but does little to nothing to help th KoS, black.
I, personally, give 3 loyalty tests and 3 or more morality tests. That way you get a decent sampling, plus the overall way the PC normally runs the character, to help determine robe color. I prepare more tests than are needed just in case I need to make a point to the PC about something. That's just me though, and I have a decent group of roleplayers who really enjoy playing, except the rules lawyer of course.
P.S. Sorry about the novella.
). I really want to blind the PC wizard (call me sadistic 
) to further the story. I'm trying to tweak the above test so the PC will lose his sight. However, I want it done in such a way that the PC loses it due to his own dicisions or actions. Not because it was forced on him.Any ideas you guys may have are welcome!
Ideas?
Thank you all for your input. I couldn't have done it without you
-The PC (a male Silvinesti) is visited by the ghost of his dead lover (tied to PC back story) in the middle of the night. She tells him that her soul has been captured by one of the Silvinesti’s oldest foes. Before she can tell who her image quickly becomes twisted and she/it (a dreamwraith) attacks the PC. 2 rds later he's joined by the PC KoS who was sleeping in the next room. (The PCs were staying at the Lighthouse of Khurman Tor as guests of Zoe Left-Hand). They dispatch the wraith but not before the wizard has been severely Wisdom drained (Down to a 3). The wraith also tips off the PCs that her soul is being held in the sewers of Ak-Khurman.
-The PCs reach an area in the sewers of Al Khurmain where they see a small opening. A dozen or so people are inside (escaped slaves) but a large man is stuck in the opening his head and mouth outside. The sewer water is rising and the large man blocks the exit so that nobody can exit. Try as they must they can't get the large man out of the hole. After about 8 rds of trying everything under the sun to remove the man (and me playing up the screams of the trapped people) He comes to the conclusion that he has to kill the large man to save the others. He dispatches him with Palin's Pyre saving the others. This is a point towards the Red Robes. Also a lesson that he needs to diversify his spell selection to other spells other than just offensive ones.
-The PCs next encounter a Knight of the Thorn in the sewers spying on the Steel Legion. The Knight attacks the PCs to make sure his presents goes undetected. The KoS is sealed off from the chamber (I won't bore you with how). This encounter didn't end up going the way I thought it would. The PC wizard ended up leeching his ring of spell storing to up the caster level of his spells and destroys the Gray Robe in a few rds. DM lesson learned here "Never under estimate the PC!"
- The PCs run across a Steel Legion member who is being attacked by an Advanced Bloodrager Dire Rat. PCs go to assist. During the start of the melee the mage spots a magical looking staff floating down the drainage way. The KoS leapt to the aid of the Legionnaire, but the wizards tries to convince me (out of character) that the ToHS care nothing of the LoS and that they in turn don't want to see the WoHS reformed. After several minutes of correcting the PC that the LoS bare no ill will to the WoHS. The PC wizard lets the staff pitch over into a drainage pipe to help the Legionnaire. The PC gets a point towards White Robes (barely).
-Next the PCs come to a room with a balcony where a whirlpool is swirling beneath it. The PCs decide to jump into the whirlpool after the wizard hears the voice of his lover in his head and telling the KoS part of his history. Yet again with a more varied spell selection the PC could have just feather falled in. This is pointed out to him later by Zoe.
- Next the PCs enter another camber in the sewers. The chamber is filled with rugs and tapestries. There are also two flaming braziers, and a lone table with two huge magical tomes. As the PC's go to check out the tomes two Fire Minions leap from the braziers and attack the KoS "only". As they enter into melee the rugs and tapestries catch fire and the room will soon become consumed by flames as well as the tomes.The wizard tells the KoS that he has no spells left that can effect the Fire Minions and advises that he should fall back. The KoS withdraws out of the room with the 2 Minions following. The wizard then saves the two tomes. Bringing each tome out of the the burning room one at a time thru the opposite door way. The wizard then continues on without the KoS or bothering to even check if he survived his melee with the minions. He passed his test for his loyalty for the magic but also received a point towards the Black Robes for abandoning his KoS ally.
- Continuing on without the KoS the wizard next comes to a stone slab door with 3 riddles etched upon it. I won't bore you with the specifics. Needless to say he solved the riddles and past thru the door.
- After passing thru the door the wizards finds out that its Cyan Bloodbane (lose part of PC back story and not really him) that stole his lovers soul. Cyan gives the PC two choices: forsake magic forever and in turn he’ll release lover’s soul; or continue his persuit of magic and he’ll banish her to the Abyss to be forever lost. After pondering on what to do for several minutes and conversing with his lover's soul he chooses the magic. Cyan then banishes his lovers soul into the Abyss thru a fiery portal. The whole time his lover telling him that she understands and will always love the PC.
- Lastly the PC is left alone with the voice of Cyan only to be heard. He tempts the PC to find out the deeper meaning and knowledge of magic. Suddenly a bright blinding orb of energy appears. The voice of Cyan informs the PC that it is the essence of magic it self and to gaze into will help the wizard gain a greater understanding of it, but not without a price. The wizard without hesitation gazes into the light. I planned on him making a series of Fort saves and with each success it was going to grant the PC a bonus to his Int check to gain a point of Int at the end of the test. He blew the first save.
To wrap up the conclusion of the test (I've gone on long enough). The PC wizard wakes in his bed at the Lighthouse of Khurman Tor permanently blinded. He is rewarded by Zoe with the Red Robes (the player thought he was going to earn White?) a staff with unknown powers, and a lecture as to the results of his test detailing his strengths and weakness. The KoS also woke in the lighthouse with his right arm horribly scared with burn marks. The KoS was not pleased. My next session is Friday with the rest of the gaming group. It should be interesting.
Actually, I'd recommend the staff function as a robe of eyes. It's not like he can see it to know it has the eyes on it until he figures it out.
I like the idea of the robe of eyes like staff. Have it contain a giant cats-eye marble in the top.