Test of the Starstone

1. Test of the Starstone

   #1

   So basically this would be a test to reach godhood or at least demigodhood.
   
   I wanted the test to depict all the necessary virtues any deity should have, regardless of portfolio or alignment.
   
   Respect, Forgiveness, Sense of balance, withdrawal from the material, knowledge, diplomacy or bluff skills, strengh, etc.
   
   each of the tests depicting one virtue, it is supposed to be a dungeon to a higher level character or group.
   
   Any ideas?

2. Re: Test of the Starstone

   #2

   
   So basically this would be a test to reach godhood or at least demigodhood.
   
   I wanted the test to depict all the necessary virtues any deity should have, regardless of portfolio or alignment.
   
   Respect, Forgiveness, Sense of balance, withdrawal from the material, knowledge, diplomacy or bluff skills, strengh, etc.
   
   each of the tests depicting one virtue, it is supposed to be a dungeon to a higher level character or group.
   
   Any ideas?
   

   
   
   The best tests are the ones that are taken without the knowledge of the test takers.
   
   Let the group/solo travel through the dungeon, facing the typical array of traps, magical dangers, and monsters, but as they progress, the actual tests are functionally thresholds to the next level as it were. Example, you mention strength, leaving the first level of the dungeon and progressing to the next cannot be accomplished by anything other than an exceptional/superhuman feat of strength. Each level has it's own test to pass through. The beauty is that the players probably aren't going to recognize you are testing them with these encounters, not considering them any more important than random monster encounters.
   
   Since this a gateway to godhood, the intent and form behind the tests should not be circumvented. The Test of Strength can only be accomplished with a feat of strength, it cannot be tricked, magicked, or otherwise gone around. If the players do this, they 'pass' the obstacle, but not the test and while the dungeon metaphorically goes on, they do not progress to the next level. They can encounter the test again, or alternately, they can be ejected from the dungeon for basically cheating on the tests.
   
   Now as you mentioned this is a final exam for divine status the last test is the hardest. There should be an item, a McGuffin, that has lead them to this specific dungeon, and they have worked very hard, faced many tests as you've mentioned and I've discussed above. The McGuffin is the material object that has driven them down the path, and it is the very final test. What is the final test, from the ones you've mentioned above it is Withdrawal from the Material.
   
   They have to reach the center of the dungeon, find the object that they have sought out. And they have to walk away from it. If they take the McGuffin, they fail the test because they could not let go of material desires. When they walk out of the dungeon they will be elevated to divinity. If they take the McGuffin, they probably are carrying a hellaciously cursed evil object back into the normal world, and nothing good comes from that.

3. Re: Test of the Starstone

   #3

   Hmm, I think you may have found your muse again Scras...
   
   

4. Re: Test of the Starstone

   #4

   
   Hmm, I think you may have found your muse again Scras...
   

   
   
   Nope, just answering a Divine Studies question. If there was a textbook, it would be in it.
   

5. Re: Test of the Starstone

   #5

   First of all thank you very much for helping me. the last one was a very good idea :}
   
   i had this pool of ideas for the dungeon, it will be a massive dungeon, almost ideal for an endgame to a lenghty campaign (it will be one of the last sessions before the "Final boss")
   
   The thing is, despite the fact that i would like to do as you say, the players would know they are going for godhood, because the dungeon they would enter, has a big reputation of being the only place where a mortal can gain godhood. Unless....unless i tweak the story and make them search for an ancient oracle, and the oracle guides them to a misterious cave to find this Mcguffin and then boom, they don't know in what they are in :} you are a genius Sir.

6. Re: Test of the Starstone

   #6

   Glad to help out.

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