How to banish an imp?

[dsellars]

(sorry if this is the wrong section, wasn't sure if it should go in magic)

Yes one of my players managed to tear the fabric of reality and drag an imp into the the world. She was only trying to cast the spirit servant spell. The thing is now I'm not sure what to do, we left the action with it eating books in a library....

It kinda happened something like this...

Anabelle (the character) works in the library of a university, she is of noble birth and has fled for her life from the witch hunters of a particularly sinister religion in her home country. So she is now in the city of Marehaven and so are they.

She has beliefs about getting sorcery accepted as a natural science starting by finding students to bring to her cause, and an instinct about not doing a menial task if she can help it.

The religion that is new here is trying to push to formalise laws to completely outlaw sorcery so they can have a good witch burning she know this as she clerks for one of the Judges that is based in the university.

So back ground out of the way.

She is in the library after along day and decides to summon a spirit servant to tidy the books away (never do a menial task kicks in and she wanted for see how magic worked). I think this is a great opportunity to have one of the students she has come across before see some magic and get interested and fits in with one of the scenes I had in mind of I decide the girl is there (when she shouldn't be) looking for a book.

*So we roll to cast the spell... and she fails (quick look up what this means), DoF 1 so that's unwanted summoning, DoF... (at this point I say so you really want to roll this as I am happy just to have it dissipate, concensus is lets roll) 1! So I start reading the text about something nasty tearing thought he fabric of reality (oh s#!t) quickly looking through the MonBu I decide on an Imp it's about the least scary thing I can find.

So I describe the spell going wrong the world tearing and an Imp appearing, and promptly there a scream from the corner as the student see this. there is a bit of stunned silence (we didn't actually roll Steel but it was role played). The Imp scampers off into the corner after screaching some kind of speech and starts to eat a book (I wasn't sure what to do it).

Anabelle then gets into a DoW with the girl to convince here not to run out of the library screaming "Witch! She's a Witch! I just saw her summon a Demon!"

Anabelle wins the DoW but has to compromise that she will get rid of the Imp now. The scene is left as a cliffhanger with Anabelle turning to face the Imp.

During this I forgot about Tax... (first spell cast in out game and I was too busy thinking what do I do now)

So how do you banish an Imp? (I kind of described it an an evil mis-formed version of Dobby with wings)

The traits for an Imp have things like Lawbreaker which sounded nasty and something about it's skin burning, does this just apply to characters or well books? (we are in a library)

How do you play G2 Will?

I would like to have a bit of fun with the Imp, I'm just not sure how. I think there should be some long term consequences too..

And then there is the whole situation of Anabelle wanting to make sorcery legitimate and the new religion claiming it is evil and that witches consort with demons, she's not really done herself any favors here...

So any ideas?




* this is just my recollection this morning of how the process went. We did follow what it said in the book

[xenomouse]

That's definitely one of the best complications I've ever read - especially with Anabelle wanting to justify the use of magic. I'm thinking she may need to enter a Duel of Wits with the imp to convince it to go away, or you guys could try fighting the thing.

I think G2 Will should be played as if the person is slightly naive but is crafty and learns quickly from their mistakes.

[dsellars]

So it could be played that the Imp can choose to go back of it's own violation?

Interesting. From what I remember one of it's beliefs is somthing like "It's better to serve than to be in hell" So (and I think my initial reaction played it like this) the Imp could have latched on to Anabelle as 'Master' but it woan't want to go back so a DoW could be framed around her wanting it to go back and it wanting to stay and serve...

If 'killed' it is simple banished back? as if she decide to go the route of 'killing' it, one of it's belifs is about revenge..

Thoughts?

[dsellars]

That's definitely one of the best complications I've ever read - especially with Anabelle wanting to justify the use of magic.

Thanks, yeah I seem to be getting stuff like this. I think she (the player) just wanted to see how magic worked... (I think it should have been easy to cast she just badly fluffed the roll).

Still a lesson in great power, great responsibility!

Is it likely to burn the library down? or just burn characters?

[luke]

Minor Miracle's the only way to go!

Also, the Imp doesn't want to go back to Hell. It'll start working on plans to stay for as long as possible. Personally, I'd go with a DoW with the summoner right away.

[Thor Olavsrud]

Also, imps don't have Spirit Nature. A B10 wound can take it out. :eek:

[Kublai]

What we got here is a case of awesomeness from failure! This is the kind of complication that gets me giddy as a BW GM. The witch summoned a demon! Hahahaha!

The imp should totally DoW to serve the summoner. If the DoW is refused, he should make a mad scamper to run away!

BTW, tell your sorcerer she really needs to use the Patiently and Carefully rules when casting spells - especially if there's no time crunch! Most of our players make it an Instinct when playing mages.

[dsellars]

Yeah that sounds like the way to go.

I guess that I should have been more ready with understanding the magic rules too to suggest the the Patiently and Carefully rules. Still what is done is done and theres an Imp on the loose...

Was an Imp the right thing to bring through? A Demon seemed a bit much to me... ;-)

[Kublai]

You chose wisely.

Although by bringing in a demon, you could've opened an entire campaign. Think A Wizard of Earthsea! The demon could've marked her somehow and taken off to do some really nefarious deeds. She would've had to built her strength up and hunted the beastie down.

[dsellars]

Minor Miracle's the only way to go!

Also, the Imp doesn't want to go back to Hell. It'll start working on plans to stay for as long as possible. Personally, I'd go with a DoW with the summoner right away.

Firstly thanks everyone for you replies.

I just have a few questions on Luke's comments here.

If a MM is the only way to get rid of it what can Anabelle gain by entering into a DoW with it? I see it that it wants to serve her, but she wants it gone (she has just won a DoW with he girl, but had to compromise that she'll get rid of it)

[xenomouse]

Firstly thanks everyone for you replies.

I just have a few questions on Luke's comments here.

If a MM is the only way to get rid of it what can Anabelle gain by entering into a DoW with it? I see it that it wants to serve her, but she wants it gone (she has just won a DoW with he girl, but had to compromise that she'll get rid of it)
Guess she better find a way to get a minor miracle or just leave town and bring the imp with her. :)

[luke]

So, get into a DoW and tell the imp, "Go away and never come back!"

See if that works.

[dsellars]

But would that mean that imp is 'banished back from whence he came' or just left wandering the streets of Marehaven causing mischief and mayhem looking for someone to serve?

[xenomouse]

But would that mean that imp is 'banished back from whence he came' or just left wandering the streets of Marehaven causing mischief and mayhem looking for someone to serve?

The interesting thing about complications is that they almost never have clean solutions.

[Kublai]

Ha! That's the joy of DoW stakes and an imp's twisted nature. You'd better be pretty specific or else he'll find some loophole.

[dsellars]

That's the thing... as the GM I have to find the loophole!

[xenomouse]

That's the thing... as the GM I have to find the loophole!
Don't even worry about finding the loophole until the player actually tries to address the issue. Even if you think of the loophole a session or two later, you can have this imp as an annoying recurring character who visits them each time he finds a loophole.

[Thor Olavsrud]

That's the thing... as the GM I have to find the loophole!

My imp would march/fly straight around the world. It's cool as long as he doesn't retrace his steps. :cool:

[luke]

That's the thing... as the GM I have to find the loophole!

You're killing me. Come on. I know you know what to do here. What does your gut tell you?

[xenomouse]

You're killing me. Come on. I know you know what to do here. What does your gut tell you?

You're killing me. Come on. I know you know what to do here. What does your gut tell you?

Double-post?!? You get a brown star, good sir!

[luke]

Quadruple posts! WTF?

[Saphim]

This scenario is full of awesome.
Imagine a witch hunter who wants to keep people safe and needs the knowledge of the witch.
The witch, who wants not to see the perception of magicians tarnished by this incident.
Perhaps throw in some rebels with good intentions, but powerless who could see the demon as a potential ally.

This is an extremely nice one-shot situation.

[dsellars]

You're killing me. Come on. I know you know what to do here. What does your gut tell you?

Tbh I'm kinda missing what you mean here :-( I may just be over thinking it.

We play tonight so I'll try and report what ended up happening, maybe I should get off my butt and write up the whole thing properly, for only a few session we seem to have a lot done.

What I am going with is this, which is what my initial instincts where and seem to have been suggested on this thread:

1) the Imp can only be banished back to the other side by a minor miracle, which will need some one Faithful on board.

2) the Imp is going to DoW to serve
a) or run off into the the city to cause trouble later if DoW is refused by the player
b) the same if it looses

If the player actively starts trying to get it banished it's not going to be too happy...

[luke]

Sounds like you're on the right path. Trust your instincts!