Meeting Tristessa (Servants of Darkness)

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

That said... I would agree that portraying Tristessa as someone that can have a discussion instead of a force of nature, and a very deadly one, is at least as far as I think against what Tristessa is.

Yes, but she is also Fey (or partly so), and Fey are often portrayed to have Rules, that they are powerless to break. Loht can give the PCs some sort of weird mystical rule that will temporarily force a "holy ground" truce situation. A command from the Prince of the Unseelie Court to parlay, or a pattern of salt that will temporarily block her, or rice on the ground she'll have to pick up a grain at a time while the PCs can talk to her. Something of that nature could give a short shelter from the force of nature while they make a legally-binding-Fey-deal with her.

[Joël of the FoS]

That said... I would agree that portraying Tristessa as someone that can have a discussion instead of a force of nature, and a very deadly one, is at least as far as I think against what Tristessa is.

The adventure is for levels 4-6th. My PCs being 8th or 9th level, you realize that still makes a probable TPK?

That said... I would agree that portraying Tristessa as someone that can have a discussion instead of a force of nature, and a very deadly one, is at least as far as I think against what Tristessa is.

Yes, but she is also Fey (or partly so), and Fey are often portrayed to have Rules, that they are powerless to break. Loht can give the PCs some sort of weird mystical rule that will temporarily force a "holy ground" truce situation. A command from the Prince of the Unseelie Court to parlay, or a pattern of salt that will temporarily block her, or rice on the ground she'll have to pick up a grain at a time while the PCs can talk to her. Something of that nature could give a short shelter from the force of nature while they make a legally-binding-Fey-deal with her.

Oh that is a good idea too!

But we just played that sesssion yesterday. I did go the "get her attention first and don't make her angry" way.

I will soon post my session journal and you will be able to read the long interaction they had with Tristessa. The players really loved that role playing session, and were moved by her wailing and sobbing.

Joël

[Baron Von Stanton]

That said... I would agree that portraying Tristessa as someone that can have a discussion instead of a force of nature, and a very deadly one, is at least as far as I think against what Tristessa is.

Yes, but she is also Fey (or partly so), and Fey are often portrayed to have Rules, that they are powerless to break. Loht can give the PCs some sort of weird mystical rule that will temporarily force a "holy ground" truce situation. A command from the Prince of the Unseelie Court to parlay, or a pattern of salt that will temporarily block her, or rice on the ground she'll have to pick up a grain at a time while the PCs can talk to her. Something of that nature could give a short shelter from the force of nature while they make a legally-binding-Fey-deal with her.

Considering Tristessa's history with Loht, I would think shouting "RUNAWAY BABY CARRIAGE" while pointing in a random direction in order to run away would be far more productive, if not outright safer than making even a hint of a mention of the Unseelie Prince.

[Joël of the FoS]

Considering Tristessa's history with Loht, I would think shouting "RUNAWAY BABY CARRIAGE" while pointing in a random direction in order to run away would be far more productive, if not outright safer than making even a hint of a mention of the Unseelie Prince.

Agreed! Tristessa is/was a Sith but I do not feel she considers herself bound to the two fey courts.

But Loht could provide the info of whatever-thingy that could binds Tristessa into parlying.

[Joël of the FoS]

I will soon post my session journal and you will be able to read the long interaction they had with Tristessa. The players really loved that role playing session, and were moved by her wailing and sobbing.

This is online, see my campaign thread.

Joël

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Considering Tristessa's history with Loht, I would think shouting "RUNAWAY BABY CARRIAGE" while pointing in a random direction in order to run away would be far more productive, if not outright safer than making even a hint of a mention of the Unseelie Prince.

Agreed! Tristessa is/was a Sith but I do not feel she considers herself bound to the two fey courts.

But Loht could provide the info of whatever-thingy that could binds Tristessa into parlying.

Agreed as well, but my point was that due to weird Faerie magic legal-ese, it's possible it doesn't matter whether she considers herself bound or not. If the Fey rules say she's bound, she's bound, like an uninvited vampire at a front door, a fiend in a mystick cage, or a werewolf wrapped in silver chains. She might rail against it, scream of the injustice, and curse Loht's name (gifting the PCs with precious backstory tidbits while she does), but if subparagraph 17 of chapter 12 of the Code of the Arak or whatever says she is compelled by a command scribed in rosewater on the hide of last spring's firstborn goat, she must heed it, at least for a time (maybe until she can break through the compulsion with her darklord gifts, setting a literal deadline for the negotiations). That sort of thing.

Sorry I was too late to the discussion to be helpful. I'm sure it worked out well. Off to catch up on your Journal. I think I'm a few years behind.

[Joël of the FoS]

Considering Tristessa's history with Loht, I would think shouting "RUNAWAY BABY CARRIAGE" while pointing in a random direction in order to run away would be far more productive, if not outright safer than making even a hint of a mention of the Unseelie Prince.

Agreed! Tristessa is/was a Sith but I do not feel she considers herself bound to the two fey courts.

But Loht could provide the info of whatever-thingy that could binds Tristessa into parlying.

Agreed as well, but my point was that due to weird Faerie magic legal-ese, it's possible it doesn't matter whether she considers herself bound or not. If the Fey rules say she's bound, she's bound, like an uninvited vampire at a front door, a fiend in a mystick cage, or a werewolf wrapped in silver chains. She might rail against it, scream of the injustice, and curse Loht's name (gifting the PCs with precious backstory tidbits while she does), but if subparagraph 17 of chapter 12 of the Code of the Arak or whatever says she is compelled by a command scribed in rosewater on the hide of last spring's firstborn goat, she must heed it, at least for a time (maybe until she can break through the compulsion with her darklord gifts, setting a literal deadline for the negotiations). That sort of thing.

Exactly. If there is a fey code or rule or edict or rope-with-knots or else that will bind Tristessa into a bargain, Loht could provide the information.

Off to catch up on your Journal. I think I'm a few years behind.

Enjoy!