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This post contains a reusable element from my Caverns of Slime adventure.
At one point, the characters are traveling in hell. Imps are watching. The party is in trouble: they need help fighting a powerful enemy, the need help an ally, they need to find a guide, something. The idea is to present the players with a choice and long term consequences: let the players decide how easily the characters is corrupted, or let the player decide how much their character is willing to suffer in order to avoid dealing with the devil – any decision is fine as long as it’s the result of a struggle, a result of being confronted with *temptation*.
Here’s what the section in the adventure says:
Whenever player characters cannot make up their mind or whenever they are in danger, have imps and devils come up and offer to *help* – for a *price*. They will enter a *pact* with player characters. Once the details have been hashed out, a pact requires a simple act to *seal* it. When a pact is broken by a player character, the character will suffer a *curse*.
+----+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | d6 | Pact | Price | Seal | Curse | +----+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+ | 1 | I will lead you to somebody | In return, you will fight for | To seal this pact, you | If you don’t give your utmost | | | who can help. | me when I summon you. | will wear this amulet with | to win the fight, these | | | | | the copulating monkeys. | monkeys will animate and grow | | | | | Atempting to take it off will | and do their utmost to wreck | | | | | strangulate you. | your neighbours, your family | | | | | | and your friends. | | 2 | I will lead you to somebody | In return, you will wear this | To seal this pact, I brand you | If you fail to do this for me, | | | who will help. | hell sigil in your face for a | with this painful *hell iron*. | you will have sown the seed of | | | | year and a day, invisible to | | evil in the hearts those near | | | | all except for those that can | | you, triggering an alignment | | | | *detect evil*. | | change, if appropriate. | | 3 | I will summon somebody who can | In return, you will forswear | We will drink each other’s | Should you break this pact, | | | help you. | fighting all demons and devils | blood in order to seal this | your muscles will wither | | | | for a year and a day. | pact. | and shrink. You will loose 4 | | | | | | Strength. | | 4 | I will summon somebody who | In return, you will donate one | To seal this pact, you shall | If the pact is not kept, this | | | will help you. | tenth of any treasure found | wear this ring of mine. | ring will poison you and you | | | | (not just your share of the | | shall die. You can never take | | | | treasure!) to evil deeds for a | | it off, obviously. | | | | year and a day. | | | | 5 | I will help you. | In return, you will suffer | To seal this pact, I will take | Even if you are rescued before | | | | for seven long weeks in hell | a lock of your hair and keep | you served your time, I shall | | | | when you die. You cannot be | it safe. | keep your mind locked up. Your | | | | resurrected in that time. | | body will be but an ordinary, | | | | | | 0-level mortal until your time | | | | | | is up. | | 6 | I will solve this issue for | In return, your soul belongs | To seal this pact, I shall cut | Anybody attempting to | | | you. | to me and you can never be | off your hand and replace it | rescue you will have to face | | | | resurrected. | with this bejeweled gauntlet. | treachery and greed every step | | | | | | of the way. | +----+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+--------------------------------+
The above table only makes sense if there is *temptation*. The party must *want* the help being offered. Some ideas:
(These two items only make sense in the context of the adventure, obviously. In your own campaign, you need to determine what might tempt your players and their characters.)
Also note that the devils will have tried to *prevent the simple removal of curses* and the simple circumvention of poisoning. They can be outwitted, but it shouldn’t be easy. Make players work for a release from the curse!
#RPG #Old School #Caverns of Slime
