Epic heroes deserve epic enemies
Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:02 pm
Ok, a quote from Tree's 'Pit Fiend' got my mind working last night … I think it deserves its own thread
Mine, and as I mentioned in the 'Pit Fiend' thread, the one epic level game I played and enjoyed was against demonologists and their demons, but there was a devil in the background 'helping' us - in order to get her and her fellow devils power as we killed off the various demons. I can't remember a thing about the cabal of demonologists, but that she devil … she was one of those bad guys I'll always remember. She was a ramped up unique Erinye (not as strong as Lilith but not a vanilla temptress devil either) who had over a decade - with other common erinyes and other devils - slowly corrupted the duke's court, especially his son.
She was clever, manipulative, ruthless, but also protective of 'her' court. She never had her hands in the blood, but a whispered idea to a less than honorable knight's son got the ball rolling time and time again. I even remember the times my Paladin sat across the table sharing wine, coffee, or whatever was appropriate for the time of the day. The first few times I was completely clueless to her true identity as she gave hints and advice on how to beat the demons & the cabal using them. Then over the next few times, I was figuring out her power slowly. The rest I KNEW what she was. However, she had done nothing herself, she had even saved the life of some innocents … I could do nothing but be furious and warn the duke and while killing off her enemy demons and doing my best to counter her power plays in the duke's court. I had even killed some of her devil allies that did take an active part and had hoped that would force her hand… She smugly smiled and said something about "Everyone no matter how great or small can act on their own and others cannot be held account for the others actions". She even hoped they got their punishments for their actions (of course meaning failing in her plans, but …) Great role playing!
I finally 'won' by making sure the duke's older daughter was untangled from her influence, married to the King's nephew (limiting the duke's son's influence in the kingdom), and I married the duke's younger daughter. Her parting words to my character on my wedding night (when she and the duke's son left the kingdom for a tour of Outermere, on which the son was killed by bandits no surprise there) was, "Congratulations & Gods' speed and protection on you through the rest of your life. But I wonder, will those Gods give you a grandson as good as you or will your seed's seed be more pliable. You see I have all the time I need, you, mortal, do not!"
The one other that is top of my list, was a knight/noble from a rival kingdom. I was playing a knight/caviler in one kingdom while he was from another rival kingdom. We were both LG but wholly opposed to each other in our goals. Kind of like the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" and the fall of Jerusalem mixed with "El Cid" and "The Warlord". It was again great role playing our interactions and both of us doing what was right while still fighting and countering each other. Unfortunately (and no surprise to make him an epic counter to my character) he always had a little better army/support/information, etc etc etc than I did, so I was always playing catch up and reaction to him and then doing my best to counter his move.
I remember one time, the evening before a critical battle, he inviting me to eat on a hill overlooking the battle field. Him a few of his fellow knights with me and my friend/party members. I met his son (acting as a page serving the food) there. The next day in the heat of the battle I see some of the knights from my side (but from a rival family) preparing to charge the group of pages and run them down. I broke off my combat and road into the lead of their charge stopping it (but being unhorsed and wounded). The rival family took me for ransom because I cost them the ransom from the boys they could have captured (and pleasure of killing some of the kids). Plus, with my pulling out of the fight I was in (pushing toward the enemy's main commander) the enemy was able to disengage from the fight and orderly fall back to the next valley and again set up a strong defense on the passes (thus winning my country a very minor and unimportant valley instead of a significant victory).
To pay the ransom I had to give up everything (including armor) except my horse and sword and was still in debt - the king refused to pay the ransom or force the family to release me without the ransom because I failed to press the fight allowing the enemy command to escape in good order). I was poor and without support so it was only me and my party trying to pay off the debt and survive. Then after a few weeks of being the popper knight and delivering messages in very dangerous locations, hunting brigands, doing other errands that a normal knight would balk at, et,c etc etc, gifts started arriving at the court for me from the enemy families who's sons I'd saved. Eventually, I had more and better things than I had to give up to pay the ransom.
So, what are those epic enemies you have had in your gaming days (either as an enemy facing you the player or as the DM facing off against your players)?
KaiserKris wrote: Epic heroes deserve epic enemies. …
Mine, and as I mentioned in the 'Pit Fiend' thread, the one epic level game I played and enjoyed was against demonologists and their demons, but there was a devil in the background 'helping' us - in order to get her and her fellow devils power as we killed off the various demons. I can't remember a thing about the cabal of demonologists, but that she devil … she was one of those bad guys I'll always remember. She was a ramped up unique Erinye (not as strong as Lilith but not a vanilla temptress devil either) who had over a decade - with other common erinyes and other devils - slowly corrupted the duke's court, especially his son.
She was clever, manipulative, ruthless, but also protective of 'her' court. She never had her hands in the blood, but a whispered idea to a less than honorable knight's son got the ball rolling time and time again. I even remember the times my Paladin sat across the table sharing wine, coffee, or whatever was appropriate for the time of the day. The first few times I was completely clueless to her true identity as she gave hints and advice on how to beat the demons & the cabal using them. Then over the next few times, I was figuring out her power slowly. The rest I KNEW what she was. However, she had done nothing herself, she had even saved the life of some innocents … I could do nothing but be furious and warn the duke and while killing off her enemy demons and doing my best to counter her power plays in the duke's court. I had even killed some of her devil allies that did take an active part and had hoped that would force her hand… She smugly smiled and said something about "Everyone no matter how great or small can act on their own and others cannot be held account for the others actions". She even hoped they got their punishments for their actions (of course meaning failing in her plans, but …) Great role playing!
I finally 'won' by making sure the duke's older daughter was untangled from her influence, married to the King's nephew (limiting the duke's son's influence in the kingdom), and I married the duke's younger daughter. Her parting words to my character on my wedding night (when she and the duke's son left the kingdom for a tour of Outermere, on which the son was killed by bandits no surprise there) was, "Congratulations & Gods' speed and protection on you through the rest of your life. But I wonder, will those Gods give you a grandson as good as you or will your seed's seed be more pliable. You see I have all the time I need, you, mortal, do not!"
The one other that is top of my list, was a knight/noble from a rival kingdom. I was playing a knight/caviler in one kingdom while he was from another rival kingdom. We were both LG but wholly opposed to each other in our goals. Kind of like the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" and the fall of Jerusalem mixed with "El Cid" and "The Warlord". It was again great role playing our interactions and both of us doing what was right while still fighting and countering each other. Unfortunately (and no surprise to make him an epic counter to my character) he always had a little better army/support/information, etc etc etc than I did, so I was always playing catch up and reaction to him and then doing my best to counter his move.
I remember one time, the evening before a critical battle, he inviting me to eat on a hill overlooking the battle field. Him a few of his fellow knights with me and my friend/party members. I met his son (acting as a page serving the food) there. The next day in the heat of the battle I see some of the knights from my side (but from a rival family) preparing to charge the group of pages and run them down. I broke off my combat and road into the lead of their charge stopping it (but being unhorsed and wounded). The rival family took me for ransom because I cost them the ransom from the boys they could have captured (and pleasure of killing some of the kids). Plus, with my pulling out of the fight I was in (pushing toward the enemy's main commander) the enemy was able to disengage from the fight and orderly fall back to the next valley and again set up a strong defense on the passes (thus winning my country a very minor and unimportant valley instead of a significant victory).
To pay the ransom I had to give up everything (including armor) except my horse and sword and was still in debt - the king refused to pay the ransom or force the family to release me without the ransom because I failed to press the fight allowing the enemy command to escape in good order). I was poor and without support so it was only me and my party trying to pay off the debt and survive. Then after a few weeks of being the popper knight and delivering messages in very dangerous locations, hunting brigands, doing other errands that a normal knight would balk at, et,c etc etc, gifts started arriving at the court for me from the enemy families who's sons I'd saved. Eventually, I had more and better things than I had to give up to pay the ransom.
So, what are those epic enemies you have had in your gaming days (either as an enemy facing you the player or as the DM facing off against your players)?
