Re: Brain Fried L Mhy

From: Julian Lord <julian.lord_at_...>
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 14:29:12 +0200

Ian :

> I've invented a Supporting Character who used to be a L Mhy, but was
> thrown out of the temple for forging passes and other documents
>
> Now, according to the Jolsadaring information this isn't possible, since the
> apostate's brain would be devoured from within, and h'e be dead
>
> My question is, how are exceptions possible?
> I think it would be a poor world if there is no room for exceptions.
> Does he have to be 'illuminated'?

No, there are several other ways around his problem.

1. Join a forger's cult or Hero Band providing protection against the Brain Flayers.
2. KNOW how to resist the Brain Flayer's magic (hopefully at a quite high skill level) : this is in fact how LM did it himself.
3. Exorcise the thing.
4. Destroy it.
5. Trap it somehow.
6. Corrupt it's nature.
7. Conceal the guilt (harder than usual because it's LM).

etc...

Anyways, there are many more suggestions on pp. 78-81 of TR about resisting Agents of Reprisal.

Some possible ways of resisting the things are made difficult by the fact that Brain Flayers are mindless.

> Can he then repent and be cleansed or
> choose to leave the cult?

Yes, he can repent and be cleansed, which involves some sort of atonement/quest.

He could always try petitioning LM, but it's unlikely to succeed. LM is jealous of his knowledge. Of course, he could always leave the cult *before* becoming a forger...

> Or would he never be able to get away with
> anything? I'm presuming in the actual temple precincts he'd never get away
> with anything, but if he did his forging at some other location...

This is the kind of thing that depends on GM fiat, and how much importance agents of reprisal are given in individual campaigns.

Julian Lord