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Dote Mal Payne, Kalak, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Apr 24, 2005 7:38:00 I've been working out the bones of a scenario in some spare time and thought I'd share in case anyone had anything to offer or might find it interesting what I've got so far.

First off, this is obviously a bit different than established dark sun canon. The most important difference is that Agis didn't wind up getting killed by Tithian when they were escaping with the Dark Lens. While Tithian is out of the picture (trapped in the cerulean storm), Agis returns to Tyr where he continues to be a charismatic leader.

Following the assassination of Kalak, his soul got trapped in the Gray as per normal following a being's death. Being rather strong-willed however, he didn't dissipate so quickly. His chief necromancer, Dote Mal Payne stole away with his earthly remains in an attempt to either glean some extra power or bring back his former lord in exchange for help in becoming more powerful. Dote Mal managed to contact Kalak's spirit in the gray and a deal was worked out. In exchange for helping Dote Mal become a t'liz (or possibly Kaisharga? I'm not sure), the necromancer will help Kalak return to life in some form or another. Over the course of several years the necromancer adventures and researches a spell or ritual that will bring Kalak's spirit back from the gray. Bring it back and store it in the necromancer's own head.

It's a temporary measure though. The idea is that once Kalak is "alive" in his chief necromancer's head again, that they will find a suitable host to transfer Kalak's mind into, allowing him to be reborn for real, at which point Kalak will grant his loyal lackey even more power (or whatever).

So assuming everything goes off without a hitch, Dote Mal winds up returning to Tyr with Kalak's essence inside his brain, and the best vessel to be found is Agis. Kalak returns in Agis' body, reinstates himself as King of Tyr, and things go badly for those dirty hippy revolutionaries.

That's the super basic outline of what's gonna happen. Dote Mal's been running around for years doing "stuff," but until now it hasn't been clear exactly what his goals and intentions have been.
#2
terminus_vortexa
Apr 24, 2005 10:57:23 I'd go with T'liz. Kalak could bargain on Payne's behalf with a Dishonored Spirit to sponsor the pact. It would give Kalak something to do while in the Gray. When Payne goes to the Grey to secure his bargain with the Dishonored Spirit, he can jet Kalak manifest Mind Store or Majic Jar or the like to put his own essence in a container of some type. Mechanically, I can't think of a way using known spells or powers for Kalak to get inside of Payne, because the minute he leaves the Grey and closes the Grey Gate, the posession would end. But You're the DM, and don't have to let your players know that! If you want to stick to the rules to cover all contingencies, have Payne bring Kalak an obsidian orb into which to store his mind, as per the Dragon abilities in the new Epic Prc, and then Kalak can use mind switch on Agis, and either smash the Orb to make it irrevocable, or keep Agis inthe orb for interrogation and torment, and to use as a hostage against other heroes!
#3
dawnstealer
Apr 24, 2005 11:57:34 This is very similar to the one I've run (and the variation I'm planning on running with my new group). Payne wants more power and figures the best way to do it is to scry Kalak's dead body. Kalak, being a very powerful personality, hadn't dissipated from the Gray yet (and wouldn't for a few years given his age, strength, personality, his smurf collection, etc) and promises to provide Payne with everything he seeks.

With the PCs trying to stop him, Payne eventually discovers a huge gem hidden far beneath Undertyr. He touches it and Bam! Kalak takes him over.

Kalak wasn't able to reform do to the nature of the Heartwood spear (which prevented regeneration in my campaign, so, sticking out of his head...), so he was forced into the Gray just like anyone else. Thanks to Payne, however, Kalak walks the earth and is not "dead."
#4
Kamelion
Apr 24, 2005 12:49:22 That's a really neat plot idea, Cap'n Nick. You could easily rule that Kalak becomes a Gray-bound undead once he is slain. He could be a unique type of undead or you could use one of the undead types from Terrors of the Deadlands. Give him the possesssion ability from TotDL Chapter Three (all Athasian undead can have unique powers) and he can take possession of either Mal Payne's or Agis' body under the right circumstances.
#5
zombiegleemax
Apr 27, 2005 8:58:42 I like this alot also.

However, I think it is more tragic if Agis is destroyed in the process of Kalak's possession. The dichotomy of allowing Agis to make real progress in creating a populist Tyr, just to have it rended assunder when Kalak takes control pleases me to no end!
#6
pringles
Apr 27, 2005 9:07:41 I'm currently writting a campaign about Kalak return (my player killed it almost one year ago, they think they will never have to face him again). Well, that led me to this idea.

The grey is composed by the soul of people that died. When you die, you go in the gray. As time pass, your essence disolve in the gray. The soul that go in the gray are from creature created by the Pristine tower only. The other creature and vegetable ``soul`` goes in the elemental plane and become elemental vortex.
An elemental vortex is an entity made with the mind of multiple entity.

The gray is in fact a vortex like the elemental vortex, but of course, people dont know that. Its a mix of all elemental since its soul from creature created by Pristine tower. Let say that this tower used all the elemental to work.
The Caller in Darkness is also an elemental vortex.

In my campaign, my Pc actually killed Kalak during hisa transformation (No Prism pentad in my game). But that was one year ago. Now, My player almost forgot that they fighted Kalak.

One of my player favorite character on his character tree (the leader of the party and revolt agaisnt Kalak(Elf mage/psionist/thief lvl 9/8/9)) was killed by a random encounter with a So'ut and there no possible way to raise him from dead since he was dissolved by the So-ut acid and ingested by the said-creature (in my game, So-ut are like Raakles, they diggest you outside before eating you). He was really ****** off and angry to die horribly by a cheap random encounter. And he say its his favorite character ever (that guy do rpg game since like 15 year and more). So I had an idea to bring his chaarcter back to life. Since I want to make Kalak come back, I sorted out cool thing. Like I said, soul that go in the gray dissolve. Kalak is presently in the Black and the area were he died is a big pool of Black (no body) so he need someone on Athas that he know to accomplish some thing to ressurect him. Kalak can only contact people in the Black. So hes only hope is to encounter someone he know (the PC) that died after him, since everyone who died before are now long dissolved in the gray. The PC soul currently in the Gray, not dissoled yet, will be attracted in ther Black and the Pc will meet Kalak in the Black. Of course, Kalak will not tell his true identity to the PC. He will pass as a mysterious entity that can show the way to get back in the light (Athas). The Pc will certainly accept. He will be on Atahas again as a Shadow and Kalak will be inside his mind. For this, I plan to use idea from Crimson legion when Rikus is posseded by the Wraith. Kalak will force the Pc to accomplish certain action that will bring back Kalak to life without the PC knowing what will happen. Of course, he will have a chance to understand and discover who that voice in his head that give him pain whenever he disobey (i plan to be ruthless on him).

As for the way I will bring back Kalak to life, its not decided yet. I need to explain to myself first how the Black work with the Grey vortex of my theory.
#7
kalthandrix
Apr 27, 2005 19:08:43 I have thought about this too, but would like to ask a pretty valid question.

If the SK's were so powerful, wouldn't it be pretty conceivable that the other SK's that were killed by the War-Bringer, all had clones, contingency spell, or something so if on the off chance they were whacked out by some band of fools that they (the SK's) would be able to come back and hunt they down!

The Champions survived for thousand of years, you would think that they would have had a back-up plan
#8
dawnstealer
Apr 27, 2005 19:20:25 That's been my theory for a long, long time. I would guess that only wielders of 10th-level magic would be able to totally obliterate an SK. (Hamanu did it to Sielba; Hamanu, Kalak, Borys, etc did it to Kalid Ma; all the SKs did it to Dregoth...kind of; Rajaat killed Tec; and so on).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 24, 2005 7:38:00	I've been working out the bones of a scenario in some spare time and thought I'd share in case anyone had anything to offer or might find it interesting what I've got so far. First off, this is obviously a bit different than established dark sun canon. The most important difference is that Agis didn't wind up getting killed by Tithian when they were escaping with the Dark Lens. While Tithian is out of the picture (trapped in the cerulean storm), Agis returns to Tyr where he continues to be a charismatic leader. Following the assassination of Kalak, his soul got trapped in the Gray as per normal following a being's death. Being rather strong-willed however, he didn't dissipate so quickly. His chief necromancer, Dote Mal Payne stole away with his earthly remains in an attempt to either glean some extra power or bring back his former lord in exchange for help in becoming more powerful. Dote Mal managed to contact Kalak's spirit in the gray and a deal was worked out. In exchange for helping Dote Mal become a t'liz (or possibly Kaisharga? I'm not sure), the necromancer will help Kalak return to life in some form or another. Over the course of several years the necromancer adventures and researches a spell or ritual that will bring Kalak's spirit back from the gray. Bring it back and store it in the necromancer's own head. It's a temporary measure though. The idea is that once Kalak is "alive" in his chief necromancer's head again, that they will find a suitable host to transfer Kalak's mind into, allowing him to be reborn for real, at which point Kalak will grant his loyal lackey even more power (or whatever). So assuming everything goes off without a hitch, Dote Mal winds up returning to Tyr with Kalak's essence inside his brain, and the best vessel to be found is Agis. Kalak returns in Agis' body, reinstates himself as King of Tyr, and things go badly for those dirty hippy revolutionaries. That's the super basic outline of what's gonna happen. Dote Mal's been running around for years doing "stuff," but until now it hasn't been clear exactly what his goals and intentions have been.
#2 terminus_vortexa Apr 24, 2005 10:57:23	I'd go with T'liz. Kalak could bargain on Payne's behalf with a Dishonored Spirit to sponsor the pact. It would give Kalak something to do while in the Gray. When Payne goes to the Grey to secure his bargain with the Dishonored Spirit, he can jet Kalak manifest Mind Store or Majic Jar or the like to put his own essence in a container of some type. Mechanically, I can't think of a way using known spells or powers for Kalak to get inside of Payne, because the minute he leaves the Grey and closes the Grey Gate, the posession would end. But You're the DM, and don't have to let your players know that! If you want to stick to the rules to cover all contingencies, have Payne bring Kalak an obsidian orb into which to store his mind, as per the Dragon abilities in the new Epic Prc, and then Kalak can use mind switch on Agis, and either smash the Orb to make it irrevocable, or keep Agis inthe orb for interrogation and torment, and to use as a hostage against other heroes!
#3 dawnstealer Apr 24, 2005 11:57:34	This is very similar to the one I've run (and the variation I'm planning on running with my new group). Payne wants more power and figures the best way to do it is to scry Kalak's dead body. Kalak, being a very powerful personality, hadn't dissipated from the Gray yet (and wouldn't for a few years given his age, strength, personality, his smurf collection, etc) and promises to provide Payne with everything he seeks. With the PCs trying to stop him, Payne eventually discovers a huge gem hidden far beneath Undertyr. He touches it and Bam! Kalak takes him over. Kalak wasn't able to reform do to the nature of the Heartwood spear (which prevented regeneration in my campaign, so, sticking out of his head...), so he was forced into the Gray just like anyone else. Thanks to Payne, however, Kalak walks the earth and is not "dead."
#4 Kamelion Apr 24, 2005 12:49:22	That's a really neat plot idea, Cap'n Nick. You could easily rule that Kalak becomes a Gray-bound undead once he is slain. He could be a unique type of undead or you could use one of the undead types from Terrors of the Deadlands. Give him the possesssion ability from TotDL Chapter Three (all Athasian undead can have unique powers) and he can take possession of either Mal Payne's or Agis' body under the right circumstances.
#5 zombiegleemax Apr 27, 2005 8:58:42	I like this alot also. However, I think it is more tragic if Agis is destroyed in the process of Kalak's possession. The dichotomy of allowing Agis to make real progress in creating a populist Tyr, just to have it rended assunder when Kalak takes control pleases me to no end!
#6 pringles Apr 27, 2005 9:07:41	I'm currently writting a campaign about Kalak return (my player killed it almost one year ago, they think they will never have to face him again). Well, that led me to this idea. The grey is composed by the soul of people that died. When you die, you go in the gray. As time pass, your essence disolve in the gray. The soul that go in the gray are from creature created by the Pristine tower only. The other creature and vegetable ``soul`` goes in the elemental plane and become elemental vortex. An elemental vortex is an entity made with the mind of multiple entity. The gray is in fact a vortex like the elemental vortex, but of course, people dont know that. Its a mix of all elemental since its soul from creature created by Pristine tower. Let say that this tower used all the elemental to work. The Caller in Darkness is also an elemental vortex. In my campaign, my Pc actually killed Kalak during hisa transformation (No Prism pentad in my game). But that was one year ago. Now, My player almost forgot that they fighted Kalak. One of my player favorite character on his character tree (the leader of the party and revolt agaisnt Kalak(Elf mage/psionist/thief lvl 9/8/9)) was killed by a random encounter with a So'ut and there no possible way to raise him from dead since he was dissolved by the So-ut acid and ingested by the said-creature (in my game, So-ut are like Raakles, they diggest you outside before eating you). He was really ****** off and angry to die horribly by a cheap random encounter. And he say its his favorite character ever (that guy do rpg game since like 15 year and more). So I had an idea to bring his chaarcter back to life. Since I want to make Kalak come back, I sorted out cool thing. Like I said, soul that go in the gray dissolve. Kalak is presently in the Black and the area were he died is a big pool of Black (no body) so he need someone on Athas that he know to accomplish some thing to ressurect him. Kalak can only contact people in the Black. So hes only hope is to encounter someone he know (the PC) that died after him, since everyone who died before are now long dissolved in the gray. The PC soul currently in the Gray, not dissoled yet, will be attracted in ther Black and the Pc will meet Kalak in the Black. Of course, Kalak will not tell his true identity to the PC. He will pass as a mysterious entity that can show the way to get back in the light (Athas). The Pc will certainly accept. He will be on Atahas again as a Shadow and Kalak will be inside his mind. For this, I plan to use idea from Crimson legion when Rikus is posseded by the Wraith. Kalak will force the Pc to accomplish certain action that will bring back Kalak to life without the PC knowing what will happen. Of course, he will have a chance to understand and discover who that voice in his head that give him pain whenever he disobey (i plan to be ruthless on him). As for the way I will bring back Kalak to life, its not decided yet. I need to explain to myself first how the Black work with the Grey vortex of my theory.
#7 kalthandrix Apr 27, 2005 19:08:43	I have thought about this too, but would like to ask a pretty valid question. If the SK's were so powerful, wouldn't it be pretty conceivable that the other SK's that were killed by the War-Bringer, all had clones, contingency spell, or something so if on the off chance they were whacked out by some band of fools that they (the SK's) would be able to come back and hunt they down! The Champions survived for thousand of years, you would think that they would have had a back-up plan
#8 dawnstealer Apr 27, 2005 19:20:25	That's been my theory for a long, long time. I would guess that only wielders of 10th-level magic would be able to totally obliterate an SK. (Hamanu did it to Sielba; Hamanu, Kalak, Borys, etc did it to Kalid Ma; all the SKs did it to Dregoth...kind of; Rajaat killed Tec; and so on).