Friendship is Dragons
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Page 297 - Monster Reborn
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Newbiespud
13th Jun 2013, 6:00 AM
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No sireee, miss Princess, we're absolutely dandy with rescuing our totally-not-a-thief friend, yes siree.
Very nice touch. Tell a story today about NPC backup of a dubiously helpful nature.
In "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft", one of the NPCs that wanted to help the players succeed was Astraxia.
Astraxia was the former BBEG adult red dragon that the players had thwarted during her coup to take over an unstable kingdom. For the adventure, Astraxia remained in the form of a pretty Elf bard and was actually quite helpful with her bardic knowledge of the undead (she did have a necromancy cult in her employ at one point).
It wasn't until the end of the adventure that they found out Astraxia was actually Locked in the elf form and by defeating Strahd* she gained her dragon form again.
She left the PCs and they never heard from her since.
*Actually, despite the Vegas strip worth of neon signs that the players only defeated a fake Strahd, they assumed they won and left Ravenloft. Undefended.
Astraxia was the former BBEG adult red dragon that the players had thwarted during her coup to take over an unstable kingdom. For the adventure, Astraxia remained in the form of a pretty Elf bard and was actually quite helpful with her bardic knowledge of the undead (she did have a necromancy cult in her employ at one point).
It wasn't until the end of the adventure that they found out Astraxia was actually Locked in the elf form and by defeating Strahd* she gained her dragon form again.
She left the PCs and they never heard from her since.
*Actually, despite the Vegas strip worth of neon signs that the players only defeated a fake Strahd, they assumed they won and left Ravenloft. Undefended.
Not a one tried to parley with strahd? One of the few domain rulers that actually, are kind of nice?
My players have all the diplomatic skill of a dagger to the face. >_>
But yeah, Strahd wasn't above negotiations. PCs could of tried working some agreement so that the villagers would stop being attacked by the undead.
But yeah, Strahd wasn't above negotiations. PCs could of tried working some agreement so that the villagers would stop being attacked by the undead.
A far far back tale was one of an actual adventure in and of itself. This was in 2nd edition. I was playing a Knight of the Dove. It was a custom class that had minor shape shifting avian style abilities, alongside a ranger special that worked together as a pair. And the party was going into town, heroes of slaying a dragon, i think it was. The local sheriffs and wife, well, more the head of the cities law, whom we rescued, was really grateful of being rescued. (his wife was taken to let the dragon get its way via the thieves guild it ran)
Enough to make advances on the pc. Given the nature of the local law, well, he wasn't that happy, and hero or no, decided in his little mind, his wife was seduced by the hero. And issue an indiscreet little searching for that fellow's personage to 'interrogate' . However, as much as he was in the way of the pc, the wife was as ever much the help in countering the trouble she made.
The rest of the party gets arrested on a false charge, she lets them out. They get help from many of the locals whom are happy to go against the guard. It was a giant cat and mouse game of help and avoiding the law for this ladies, amorous ways.
Oh I have a good one for this.
I was playing a custom campaign in pathfinder and our party was stranded on an island, investigating what was going on and we eventually found out we had to keep an artifact save. Our explorations lead us to the base of a cult to Zon-Kuthon but the cult had already left to assault the place holding the artifact. While searching the base we found their hobgoblin cook.
Now I am using my lovably dumb barbarian (18 Str,Con and Cha, 8 Dex, 6 Int and Wis) who had a ton of diplomacy. As such I walked in and said "Hi im Bear!" and rolled well on my diplomacy check, so he joined us as Gralnak, the destroyer of worlds.
Anyway we go to defend the artifact and prepared to fight them from behind a wall. About 2 turns into the battle though, Gralnak decides to leap off the wall and into the fray so he can actualy kill things. Seeing as outside were about 20 actual hobgoblin warriors, the priestess, a demon and a 6 headed pyrohydra, he didn't last long.
We still somehow won that so he might have helped more than we realized. One of my barbarians battlecries is still "FOR GRALNAK!"
I was playing a custom campaign in pathfinder and our party was stranded on an island, investigating what was going on and we eventually found out we had to keep an artifact save. Our explorations lead us to the base of a cult to Zon-Kuthon but the cult had already left to assault the place holding the artifact. While searching the base we found their hobgoblin cook.
Now I am using my lovably dumb barbarian (18 Str,Con and Cha, 8 Dex, 6 Int and Wis) who had a ton of diplomacy. As such I walked in and said "Hi im Bear!" and rolled well on my diplomacy check, so he joined us as Gralnak, the destroyer of worlds.
Anyway we go to defend the artifact and prepared to fight them from behind a wall. About 2 turns into the battle though, Gralnak decides to leap off the wall and into the fray so he can actualy kill things. Seeing as outside were about 20 actual hobgoblin warriors, the priestess, a demon and a 6 headed pyrohydra, he didn't last long.
We still somehow won that so he might have helped more than we realized. One of my barbarians battlecries is still "FOR GRALNAK!"
Oh! i had forgotten about this, but I actually have a story to contribute. It is from Raxon's adventures in the modern world. He has found a young sorceress, who has apparently just manifested. Unable to do anything with her magic except unleash it at things as a shock wave. Her mother was using her to commit robberies. Bad mother. The girl is obviously no match for a much more experienced mage, and Raxon decides to take the kid under his wing. Her mother elects to join them, since her other alternative was to be handed over to the cops and likely never see her daughter again.
Raxon gives the girl and her mother each a mask to wear as he walks them out. While he is explaining to the nice policemen that he can't risk allowing the state to touch the girl, the feds arrive. They kindly escort Raxon and the two females to beautiful, scenic undisclosed location, where he meets a man who gives his name as John Doe. And then this scene happens:
"I understand you wish to cut a deal." Raxon nodded. "I do indeed. I want you to release these two into my custody." Doe nodded. "I see. I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement."
Raxon smiled. "Before we go any further, I believe there's a point I must make." Raxon teleported the four of them to a grassy meadow. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. They teleported back. "I am here of my own free will. My word is my bond, but until we come to an agreement, I am not obligated to do anything. If your absolute terms are unacceptable, I can simply walk out of these negotiations at any time."
"Fair enough. I've had a couple hours to consider what you might accept. Would you be willing to allow the two of them to live under our care? We would allow you to visit at anytime." Raxon shook his head. "I'm afraid that's far too dangerous. I would have to set up systems to make sure she doesn't have some sort of overload. If she did, potentially several people could die."
Doe nodded. "This overload. what exactly does that entail?" Raxon smiled. "It happened to me once, when I was a young man. Government interference in my official business. Suffice it to say that on my world, Atlantis is no more." Doe's eyes opened wide. Raxon put a hand up to calm him. "You don't need to be concerned. It was deliberate on their part, and I was several magnitudes more powerful than this girl is. At the very most, it would be like a stick of dynamite."
Doe said, "Well, that is a relief. So that sort of thing doesn't happen naturally?" Raxon shook his head. "Not at all. However, I can't be too careful. This isn't really the FBI, after all." "How did-" Raxon shook his head. "Now, now, giving out trade secrets ruins the mystique." Doe sighed. "Very well. Let's try another approach.
"We have a social worker on staff. I propose that she be allowed to visit on a regular basis to ensure that the child is not being mistreated. Ideally, it would be daily visits." Raxon smiled. "Allow me to make a counteroffer. I will not only allow her into my home, I will allow her to live there, and report back as often as she likes. This offer will last until the girl turns eighteen.
"At that time, I will offer a permanent place in my home to your social worker. I imagine the girls will have grown very much attached to her. In exchange for this highly generous offer, the mother's criminal records be completely expunged, as well as any criminal records the daughter has." Doe peered at Raxon. "That is a tall order."
Raxon smiled. "I can make it easier. I can whip up a pact. Your end of the bargain will be held for you." Doe shook his head. "That won't be necessary. I agree to your terms." The two men shook hands. Doe pushed a button on the intercom on his desk. "Send miss Layden in, please." There were footsteps, and an attractive young woman in her early to mid twenties walked in.
"Professor Bio, this is Amanda Layden." Raxon shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nicole Lockhart." The woman said, "I'm afraid you misheard. My name is Amanda Layden." Raxon frowned and pulled a wallet from his pocket. "So what you're saying is that this isn't your wallet? I guess I can keep it, then."
The woman's eyes went wide, and her jaw dropped. Raxon opened the wallet to show her the drivers license inside. "But, I- that- where-I'm not-" The girl giggled under her mask, and Raxon said, "Take your wallet, Agent Lockhart. Try to keep from having it stolen again, I might not be the one who catches the perp next time."
She looked at Doe, and he said, "Since you've made it painfully clear that you know she's an operative, I suppose the deal's off." Raxon smiled kindly. "I never said that. Are you ready to leave, miss Lockhart, or is there anything you need to get? Go ahead and ask. I doubt the director will say no if you ask for more gear."
Yup, this lady is gonna watch Raxon like a hawk, filch samples of his stuff, and transmit the contents of all his spellbooks, journals, and notes to a shadowy federal agency that deals in real scary cloak and dagger stuff. He knows it and he's inviting her in. Would you like to know why? Because now he has a fun new game! He makes various enchanted items, gives them to Nicole, and she gives them to her agency for study.
One of my favorites is a plastic tub with strange runes written along it, and on top is a plastic lid with an intricately carved scene of a knight leading an army of ducks into battle. The tub is filled with rubber ducks. When you look at a duck, it binds the duck to you. When move more than three meters away, and break eye contact, or if you lose sight of it because something gets between you, it will teleport closer to you, preferably on a waist high surface like a desk or table. But it only teleports to places where you're not looking. The ducks are nigh invulnerable, immune to being harmed in any feasible way.
What makes this so good is that the guy who first examines these will open the lid, and make direct eye contact with the first layer or two. He'll take one out, place it on his workbench, look it over, take some measurements, etc. then he turns around, and there's a few dozen ducks right behind him, all facing him. Now, in this situation, most peoples' response would be to check the tub to see if there are any ducks missing. If you're an idiot, or possibly if you think this is awesome, this could keep happening until you have a couple hundred rubber ducks with unknown properties following you everywhere. In an extremely classified research facility.
He's technically not evil, though. Just Chaotic Good. Kind of a dick though. And in case you haven't guessed, Raxon stole her wallet.
That story was brilliant. Especially the rubber rucks.
Yeah, Raxon would be right at home in one of my Warehouse 23 campaigns.
Raxon is a magic user of totally unknown origin, and demonstrates a remarkable talent for theft and espionage. They consider him an omega level security risk.
Ya know, if they asked, he'd be glad to join them as an R&D guy. Come on, they would bring him new toys, and he can learn lots of new enchantments and tricks. All he has to do is tell them how things work! Most magical items are foci, siphons, and miscellaneous tools. A lot of these require a mage to fuel the device with their own power, so most of them are perfectly safe for him to hand over.
A cross between SCP and Warehouse 13? Yeah, you pretty much described My Warehouse 23 campaigns. :D
It's the only campaign where my players actually get creative, like running over an alien using a Humvee without the vehicle touching the ground (This happened in a Mexican jungle during an alien invasion).
Fun times.
It's the only campaign where my players actually get creative, like running over an alien using a Humvee without the vehicle touching the ground (This happened in a Mexican jungle during an alien invasion).
Fun times.
Not so fast Raxon! You activated <i> MY </i> trap card: Derpy Hooves. Derpy does...something. I have no idea what, but it's Derpy, so I win.
Raxon, I would just like to say that you're the man! Seriously. You alone make up 25% of the entertainment related to this comic.
He's making more specifically to butcher and cook them. On display for all to see. Right outside PETA headquarters.
He is a master of the art of the troll. Also, he is kind of a dick, which you will see soon enough. Sooon...
In a custom game I was beta testing over the course of summer camp, my group had created a party with a Scientist, a soldier, a Knight and a dark wizard with no dedicated healing between them. So I had to write up a Cleric Character who would act as an Adviser to them and provide healing and support. Needless to say she Managed to prevent the wizards death after he tried to surprise a tank by jumping in front of it(and rolling 3 natural ones in a row).
I don't think I've seen a DM pull this trick before, offering help when a party that a party has (suspicious) reasons to decline. I must make a note of this one.
I've done this trick several times. However, my players don't like to take up the offer because any significantly powerful NPC who helps them will eat an equally significant chunk of the experience, treasure, and "PR" gained.
The piper always collects his dues. ;)
The piper always collects his dues. ;)
Never turn down help. And a favor is pretty easy to grant, useful, but not overdone because of what the dm can say goes.
Nah, they rarely think of reasonable favors. One time they got kicked off a ship onto the pier when two players wanted the captain to loan them something like $40,000 for magic items. :)
Most of my players are from the classic "hack and slash" catagory. A few are intelligent, but don't like to lead the others.
Most of my players are from the classic "hack and slash" catagory. A few are intelligent, but don't like to lead the others.
Ah. I was more concerned with the PCs that would take the help, then turn on the person helping them after the matter is resolved. Sorry, just remembering stunts played in games I ran 30 years ago.
Only one of my players would consider taking an offer and then back-stabbing the NPC. His problem is that he lacks conviction and thus always loses to a heapful of karma later. ;)
except the amusing thing is that they actually COULD take Celestia with them- Rarity isn't actually doing anything illegal, and the Thieves Guild doesn't actually need to come into it. (If celestia asks what she was doing, then Rarity can be honest: she was comissioned to make costumes for Sapphire Shores's next show, and needed to harvest more.) And Ceestia WOULD be pretty useful going into a potential combat situation. (Celestia was only defeated by Chrysalis due to Shining Armour's love for Cadence being THAT strong.)
I figure they barely know she's off on a secretive mission and apparently got in trouble with digging dogs.
Hey, if she trusted them to deal with a freaking dragon without help, they can handle a few canine troglodytes.
Thank you, Lyntermas. Until you threw in those last two words, the idea of describing Applejack as a reverse cowgirl never crossed my mind.
It's alright, I'm imagining AJ as a human to ease the pain. :3
Raxon might be willing to help you with that, Guest. A little memory loss and the archive will be effectively as good as new for you!
Raxon tastes good like a *ch ch* cigarette should.
Raxon tastes good like the internet should!
Great taste, more filling, and goes down smooth.
Remember that, ladies. And laddies. And other available parties. And Zoidberg. I have flexible interests, among other things. wink wink nudge nudge
More group infighting. A good DM knows how to divide a group when necessary.
...As long as you can do it to the characters, rather than the players, I'll agree it's a good idea. Otherwise, participant discretion is advised.
In this case, I should think they do the following:
Twilight: No Princess, I think we can handle this ourselves, we really don't want to draw too much attention to this.
Celestia: Why not?
Twilight: Umm...
AJ: Politics. Twilight's already a bit well known as your personal student. If word gets out you jump like this to her aid whenever she's in trouble, some foreign power might decide to try and use her as leverage against you.
Celestia: Hmm...a valid point. But perhaps my guards-
Twilight: Draw too much attention, and it makes me too politically important.
Rainbow: However, a few extra weapons wouldn't go amiss. You know, just in case Spike ISN'T over-reacting due to his obvious major crush on Rarity.
Celestia: Very well. I'll have the Guard lend you some equipment. It's easy enough to use.
*Panel shot of Rainbow in her '20% cooler gala armor'*
Rainbow: AWESOME!
Twilight: No Princess, I think we can handle this ourselves, we really don't want to draw too much attention to this.
Celestia: Why not?
Twilight: Umm...
AJ: Politics. Twilight's already a bit well known as your personal student. If word gets out you jump like this to her aid whenever she's in trouble, some foreign power might decide to try and use her as leverage against you.
Celestia: Hmm...a valid point. But perhaps my guards-
Twilight: Draw too much attention, and it makes me too politically important.
Rainbow: However, a few extra weapons wouldn't go amiss. You know, just in case Spike ISN'T over-reacting due to his obvious major crush on Rarity.
Celestia: Very well. I'll have the Guard lend you some equipment. It's easy enough to use.
*Panel shot of Rainbow in her '20% cooler gala armor'*
Rainbow: AWESOME!
Too bad about that whole Screencap thing, where we already know they'll turn her down. Curse you, Genre Savvy.
Newbiespud is gonna do some experimentation with photoshop. Axes and armor for everypony!
oh gods this reminds me of the second campaign i ran, the way we played in my current group was that the DM was allowed to have their own PC, NOT A GOOD IDEA, but my character who was a bard mind you had the stupidest backstory ever.
yes stupider than the one you just came up with.
he was half phoenix, genetically altered to have phoenix wings and their regenerative abilities
needless to say after the short campaign i permanently retired the character, but i still laugh when i thought i could make it work.
yes stupider than the one you just came up with.
he was half phoenix, genetically altered to have phoenix wings and their regenerative abilities
needless to say after the short campaign i permanently retired the character, but i still laugh when i thought i could make it work.
They've never complained and in fact have told me that they like the system I run. :3
If it's because the group could use an extra character - maybe not even for mechanical reasons, they're just a bit on the quiet side so one more person helps turn the awkward mumbling into a half-decent conversation - or because the game is so simple to GM that you'd be bored if you didn't have a character. THEN it might work - or might not, nothing helps if you're a bad player to begin with after all.
On the other hand, it's not likely to work if you're tired of GMs having so much power over your character and keeping you from being in the center of the limelight, or if your character is the Gandalf-equivalent; Super-powerful, and a deus-ex-machina meant to both create and force the plot. I mean, I love Gandalf as a character, but if you try it as a DMPC the players will be stuck at the 'Group of dwarves show up and conscript you as a burglar' state and likely won't get to the 'I am grateful for having been shown a wonderful adventure' state Bilbo gets to later on.
A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself how comfortable you are with your character being in the shadows of everyone else. It doesn't have to be, but if you're not comfortable with the idea you'll have trouble giving up status and power if you're starting to become too 'awesome'
So, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. But, I could very easily see someone else having one of the problems that you mentioned.
A person that deliberately strains the emotions of their friends for entertainment?
I might put up with that bullshit for a while but then I'd tell them fuck off.
...Seems like good way to lose friends.
I might put up with that bullshit for a while but then I'd tell them fuck off.
...Seems like good way to lose friends.
Either way the comic is very amusing.
Tho I have to confess I've been trying to setup an online D&D pony game for about two weeks now and barely a nibble.
You guys know where d&d loving pony dudes are congregating?
Or can't I? Let's see if this thing allows links.
If you wanna play one of the mane six and travel the universe on a custom spelljammer.
Also, hard to have mechanics for a live game via posting, unless it's actually a PbP. :)
http://ponytales.forumotion.com/t597-recruiting-high-level-pony-game-using-an-online-virtual-tabletop-pathfnder#49178
This seems like the best place to do it. XD
For some reason, I pictured that hammer as more of a spatula. I guess the avatar reminded me too much of a Ukyo Kuonji pose.
Curses i was gone when the comments blew up i wanted to help
I'm going with the theory that Celestia's the secret queen of thieves, beginning the thieves guild herself so that she could secretly control and regulate even illegal activities in her kingdom. And have fun. Because she's like that. At least, that's what the fanbase says. And we're never wrong!
That's how Elusive was never caught; (s)he was on the moon this whole time!
Besides, what kind of master thief worth her salt would let something as trivial as "being trapped in space" get in the way of running her operation?
Heh, maybe Celestia did start it, but since a guild leader that is immortal would attract too much intrest, she handed it off to one of her mortal relatives.
Over the centuries, the Guild's leadership has been passed from one of Celestia's mortal relatives to another, all with Aunt Celly covertly providing advice when asked (and occasionally assignments)
Over the centuries, the Guild's leadership has been passed from one of Celestia's mortal relatives to another, all with Aunt Celly covertly providing advice when asked (and occasionally assignments)
On the downside, her government still pursues thieves actively with her full blessing and a fair degree of cooperation, believing this is vital to keeping the guild from growing lax. It's something of a Bokononist measure.
I am sorry Princess Celestia, but how are we supposed to get any experience points if you come with us? The encounter levels just aren't high enough. But thanks.
"I hope they didn't censor that, because there's nothing wrong with dog."
(With apologies to Bob Einstein.)
(With apologies to Bob Einstein.)