Tales Question from Those Who Tarry No Longer

[Majestic]

Hello all,

****WARNING: SPOILERS from "Tales from Wilderland"***

Towards the end of "Those Who Tarry No Longer", in the dreamscape, the PCs are offered the chance to serve the Necromancer. The adventure then gives a binary choice for the players: "Kneel" or not. It then goes on to give the option of tricking the enemy by using Geb as a 'Trickster'.

What would you do if the PCs choose to play the tricksters themselves? I could easily see my PCs doing this. Saying they'll serve the Enemy, but then using that as an opportunity to flee.

It would be tough to allow them to do this, as one would have to narrate their attempted subterfuge and subsequent escape. I'm leaning towards having Annatar look them in the eyes and realize what they're trying to do (i.e., refuse them the opportunity). After all, if they use Geb as a trickster, he ends up getting caught and is executed. I'm hesitant to allocate them Shadow Points in this case (as you would if they outright accepted and kneeled to the Necromancer), as their intentions are good. I could see issuing a Shadow Point or two, though, too.

How would you handle this as LM, if your players tried it?

[Robin Smallburrow]

Just as someone in real life 'pretends to try some Ice' (to give a real life example), pretending to serve Sauron WILL have the characters truly serving in the end, despite their 'trickster' intentions at the start, and you should warn your players accordingly.

Remember, one of Tolkien's basic themes is "nothing is evil in the beginning" - this is one of the ways!

Robin S.

[Majestic]

Good point, Robin.

I have to ask, though, never having heard that phrase before, what "'pretends to try some Ice" means?

[Robin Smallburrow]

Most Ice addicts say that 'I only meant to try some and I always intended to stop' when they are asked how did they start- giving oath to Sauron works the same way (I never meant to serve Him!)

Robin S.

[Falenthal]

I'm leaning towards having Annatar look them in the eyes and realize what they're trying to do (i.e., refuse them the opportunity). After all, if they use Geb as a trickster, he ends up getting caught and is executed. I'm hesitant to allocate them Shadow Points in this case (as you would if they outright accepted and kneeled to the Necromancer), as their intentions are good. I could see issuing a Shadow Point or two, though, too.

How would you handle this as LM, if your players tried it?

I see both option as the right ones, even compatible.
Remember that Galadriel could "read the minds and souls" of those who were before her. What could Sauron do?
Saruman didn't tick Sauron, so the players shouldn't also. Otherwise, Annatar would just behave like a normal bandit.
Eitherway, telling a lie to save yourself is meritory of Shadow Points, wether your intentions are good or not. In Middle-Earth the end doesn't justify the way (Sorry, I don't know this quote in english).

So, I would do both: Annatar detects their lie and laughs in front of them for their pitty effort, AND they gain some Shadow Points (I would grant them 3 or 4).

[Glorelendil]

Most Ice addicts say that 'I only meant to try some and I always intended to stop' when they are asked how did they start- giving oath to Sauron works the same way (I never meant to serve Him!)

Robin S.

I had to look it up. Ice is a form of methamphetamine. I assume it's the same thing as 'crystal meth'.

[Terisonen]

Middle Earth is a world of 'Absolute Light' vs 'Utter Darkness' and this kind of trick should not be allowed. Serve it or Die.

[Majestic]

Most Ice addicts say that 'I only meant to try some and I always intended to stop' when they are asked how did they start- giving oath to Sauron works the same way (I never meant to serve Him!)

Robin S.

I had to look it up. Ice is a form of methamphetamine. I assume it's the same thing as 'crystal meth'.

I believe it is, though that's not a slang term you hear in the U.S., at least not very commonly in our area.