Background Information: The Soul Scourge is a eating away at life and spirit across the entire world of Helca. It affects every living creature. Its slowly weakening bodies, minds, and the Essence of everything. Gruxxand the Necromancer discovered a new path to Lichdom that did not either involve isolation and a long trial of pain and agony, or a cold Bargain to the Lich Lords. He found a way to tap into Mog Creoch, the Great Worm – devourer of all things – as an anchor point to undeath. The goal of Gruxxand the Necromancer was originally to live forever, even if at the expense of everything else. He has been corrupted, or perhaps it was the plan of Mog Creoch all along, but now he wishes to cleans the world of life. Now he seeks to eradicate all other life. The spirit of the worm inhabits him and he will stop at nothing to turn the entire face of the planet into a cleansed, pristine rock where nothing lives. There can be no death, because there is no life. Ultimately he will be as a God. And when his work is done, the great worm will swallow him – blessing him with an ending. “Bleached bones, sundered skulls, eviscerated bags of flesh. Beautiful death everlasting, impervious to time. These things are pleasing and I will fill the world with them!” He is the enemy of undeath and all life now.
Specifics aside (which characters, etc.), would you be interested in participating in an attempt to end or alter the Soul Scourge? Its a “down the road” item – at least 6 months in-game; I want to return to the campaign characters and process the treasure hunt before anything else. Lots of prep if you chose to do so. It MUST be unanimous for me to contemplate running it involving players it in any way.
RESULT = Unanimous!
In this, i am including ALL active discord members, but i am only counting the votes of the current PC party members.
Specifics aside (which characters, etc.), would you be prefer to participate directly (using characters, engaged in battle) or indirectly (being advisors on a council, risking permanent reputation/standing in the community)?
DIRECT: Three different levels of danger/possible involvement – ONLY ONE OF WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE CAMPAIGN CHARACTERS (VERY DANGEROUS!). The other two party options includes an evil party working for the Lich Lords, or a band of heroes of the realm in service to the High King’s agents; Worst outcome is death.
INDIRECT: A semi-scripted approach wherein you have a say in what happens (planning and organizing), but do not jeopardize your characters directly; You risk your reputation; Worst outcome is ruined reputation, exile and universal condemnation (your characters are done/retired barring some crazy idea) and the loss of others’ lives and materials on the battlefield in the combat resolution.
Do nothing. Wait, see what happens. It will take a long time for him to devour the world.
Mission: Kill anything you can related to him.
Family/next of kin (or whoever designate – a will must be made) will inherit the reward if they are dead.
They can be guaranteed to pass into an afterlife; The House of the Dead will not be barred to them.
They can be guaranteed to give forever rest – as long as there is victory, no fallen member can be returned as undead.
One character can be returned to life if there is victory.
No backup characters of same level like Killing Mendollin; Motivation = retirement? land (Grand Barony), peerage title (Baron) – who knows?
The High King and sisterhood behind the throne will NOT endorse Dunstrand Rising campaign characters doing this. It is a suicide mission for such low level, even if there is a slight chance. They will not be seen to encourage it or reward it so others do not follow suit and throw their lives away.
18th level non-evil characters; High King agents. Limits: 2014 PHB class/race.
> Motivation = retirement; land (Grand Barony), peerage title (Baron);
Mission: Kill Gruxxand + deal with his minions. The Lich is the highest entity to take down, but the released power of Mog Creoch must also be fought.
18th level evil characters; Lich Lord agents. Limits: 2014 PHB class/race. Monster options: Vampire & Lich options – both per Monster Manual exactly https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Lich / https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Vampire
> Motivation = free of the thrall bond of the Cold Bargain made with the Lich Lords; Mission: Kill Gruxxand. Nothing else matters. Whatever fate his minions inflict on the rest of the lands only serves the cold masters. The Lords of Winter will restore any downed servants after the battle as long as they are not permanently destroyed. The gift of undeath without the Cold Bargain will be theirs, and the release of the Cold Bargain for existing thralls.