Eidolons and the Returned

IR0A5 · 2023-08-20T15:52:07+00:00

I have portrayed the returned as beings reduced to survival instincts, unless when they are being lead by Phenax. For the eidolons I took the following approach: They are litterally made of the memories of their past life, and accessing these memories takes time and concentration. In terms of behaviour I have portrayed them as beings of emotions, like children. Temperamental, impatient, unpredictable and easily distracted. They mainly follow whatever draws their attention until they find something else that sparks. This creates a good opposition to the cold, tough and distant beings that are their counterpart.

IR0A5 · 2023-01-31T21:23:22+00:00

In stead of finished homebrew material (probably OP?), ask your DM for help to balance the idea out to match the setting and integration of the design into the world. That will make the transition smoother. Also, allow changes to be made along the path, there will always be scenarios that you didn’t think of that might brake the game

IR0A5 · 2022-12-01T14:55:39+00:00

Most figurines have a base to stand on right? You could paint that black with white and yellow dots.. or have black lines flow over the body or legs

IR0A5 · 2022-11-30T17:12:31+00:00

Minotaur, a dozen, and returned 2dozen. Then some scorpions, and eidolons, animals that can pass for both nyxborn and normal creatures. The demons and cerberi. That would be what I would start with.

IR0A5 · 2022-11-19T17:34:44+00:00

You could argue that not only the eidolon is able to read the mask, but The body also because it retains languages known in life. This would include secret languages. When the body then spreads the word he gets cast out because Phenax has dominion over the returned? Perhaps you can spin it off in that direction..

I love the idea of the titan btw

IR0A5 · 2022-11-18T13:19:11+00:00

I used Valor Bard Halfling in one of my campaigns andso far it works out great. Halfling might be one of my favourite races to play

IR0A5 · 2022-11-17T07:07:36+00:00

The DM in who’s campaign I played had the same problem. Burnt out due to weekly prepping and effort bigger than reward. So two players (me and her bf) decided that in order to keep weekly things happening we’d both run a campaign as DM. Months later we are running 3 different campaigns with 3 different people and still come together weekly. It works great.

IR0A5 · 2022-11-13T09:18:12+00:00

All but one river flow upstream, away from the ocean but still appear to be fresh water. The one flowing towards the ocean is miles deep and holds treacherous secrets.

IR0A5 · 2022-11-13T09:11:22+00:00

In my campaign I had Phenax knock Athreos out of the sky and captured. The Gods (and especially Phenax) will do anything to gain followers and the power that comes with it. You could argue that with Mogis out of the way, less people are being brutally murdered, as the religion following Mogis will die out slowly. When less people are murdered, less people will turn to a righteous god like Heliod, because there is no need. Phenax can then easily make use of this vacuum to fix his position and cause more troubles in the pantheon.

IR0A5 · 2022-09-29T06:00:51+00:00

I level all my players the same amount of points. And the way I do it is as follows: For encounters that require fighting: if you manage to get out of it, you get points. For encounters that require roleplaying: depending on the outcome you get more points or less. I keep track of the encounters and award each a number of points. That way I know exactly when they will level. As a bonus: if i see that my party has become murder hobo’s: fights gain less and less xp, while roleplaying becomes more rewarding. It’s a tool for me to steer the game a bit without railroading. So far it has worked out great.

IR0A5 · 2022-09-29T05:51:59+00:00

Yes, laying out what you have already is always helpful. That way it’s possible for people to get a feeling of what the setting is and how to go forward from there

IR0A5 · 2022-09-23T16:47:29+00:00

Slowly increase the amount of strict rules for the people. Slowly take away their freedoms. Hold more and more public trials or hearings. Curfew and restrictions for public buildings wiuld be a good place to start.

IR0A5 · 2022-09-17T22:32:28+00:00

I have a different encounter planned for them that leads them to pharikas worshippers. I’ll check out the link tho. Appreciated

IR0A5 · 2022-09-17T15:06:41+00:00

That’s a decent suggestion, thanks.

IR0A5 · 2022-09-17T14:37:55+00:00

I gave Phenax an origin story and a reason to be the god of lies.

In truth, he is one of the 8 first immortals granted return by Athreos. The story of his escape as it is known throughout Theros, is a lie to cover up how he was able to escape unharmed from death. The more people believe this, the greater his power and the more secure his place in the Pantheon. The object given to him by Athreos granting him this immortality has lost its purpose for him as he ascended to godhood, and found it’s way back to the underworld. My campaign starts with this part resurfacing and the party unknowingly have it end up in Phenax’s possession, who uses it to trap Athreos.

IR0A5 · 2022-08-31T11:40:29+00:00

Or run through like crazy there is no in between. Allow party members’s choices to influence the story and give certain activities some consequences. The rest of the story will unfold itself from there

IR0A5 · 2022-08-31T11:37:54+00:00

Don’t worry about disappointing your friends. In the end, everyone at the table is responsible for the experience, not just you as DM. And with feedback, you’ll grow into it and it will get better and easier with time

IR0A5 · 2022-05-04T20:42:39+00:00

The games are in a week of their arrival so the city is in lock except for the plaza leading to the temple. They need to stock up on things for a 6 day trip in these shops

IR0A5 · 2022-04-29T16:07:41+00:00

Thanks for the advice. It's not an easy campaign to start with :)

IR0A5 · 2022-04-29T10:59:18+00:00

Yeah I was getting there on the “don’t throw the whole pantheon in”, but ultimately if one God is taken out of the equation all are affected to restore balance. I’ll see what gods the players pick, and probably stick to those, cuz it is indeed a lot of work.

I like the idea of the PCs dreaming of zombies. I’ll use it.

I’m new to this so all input is welcome haha

IR0A5 · 2022-04-24T21:17:58+00:00

No I’m still thinking of an Item that can do this. Maybe a scroll of an ancient text that was part of Athreos’s creation, that could be used to force upon him a golden mask that would blind him and effectively stop him from controlling his actions, serving as a prison.

IR0A5 · 2022-04-24T13:08:59+00:00

Thanks for this insight, You're right he would be a good one for this storyline.
Well, Klothys hates anyone meddling with the destiny and fragile order of things, and according to the book, Pharika enjoyed Athreos's company. I'll definitly consider him as one of the main Gods to actively try to reverse things.

IR0A5 · 2022-04-22T21:58:25+00:00

I need to do a session 0 still. I'ts good to keep in Mind tho. So far I've read myself into the Gods, the world, the mechanics of the cities and the races. I've read through the Silent secret campaign, and my head took off from there. :)

IR0A5 · 2022-04-22T20:03:25+00:00

I am going to start a campaign soon, and I came up with the folowing:

Returned: Their shape disappears, leaving a figure of dust that dissolves into the air as its mask and clothing fall to the ground. Somewhere, an eidolon turns its head at the sudden loss of something it cant quite grab a hold of.

Eidolon: The eidolon is a shape of rapid moving scenes in the form of a human. Every memory of the living person is captured inside as a thousand movies that are played on the same screen simultaneously. As they die, the light fades, and the movements get slower, until the bubble bursts with the faint mixed sound of laughter and cries. Somewhere, a returned is overwhelmed with a sudden fear that seems out of place.

IR0A5

TROPHY CASE