Re: [DL] Harrowed - Am I Missing Something? (Repost)

[darklord@dark-sky.net]

Have you read the book of the dead yet?  If not I definitely recommend it, as it
answers most of the questions you have asked.  As I just got done re-reading a
section of it, I remember one thing that was said for introducing the prospect
of harrowed being good to a party who is prejudiced against them.  Introduce an
NPC to help them out of a real jam, let him join the party and go with them on
an adventure or maybe two before letting it slip that he is harrowed, and is
actually out to do some good with his powers.  Make sense?  Good, I thought so.

Dirk "Is running a few dead guys right now" R.

Ed's wrote:

> Heya Folks,
> I'm reposting this because a) I got very little response and am still stuck
> and b) I posted it right about the time that the 'lil snafu occurred with
> the list and I am hoping that's the reason for the lack of response.  I have
> made slight changes for clarity.
>
> My group has chatted about what would happen should a posse member become a
> Harrowed.  (My bad that they know a bit about them.  In my exitement about
> the game before we started, I let a tad bit of it slip... probably my
> biggest hinderance as a GM/Marshal, I tip my hand a bit more than I should.)
> To a person, they plan on "puttin' him back where he belongs... in the
> dirt".  This is for one simple reason (in their minds), no matter how useful
> the posse member was and no matter how much MORE useful he is now with those
> neat-o Harrowed powers that they've heard whispers of, they'll never be able
> to let their guard down with him/her ever again.  They know
> that, eventually, that Manitou is gonna grab dominion and make a ruckus.
>
> This seems to be an element of the game that neither I nor my players have
> seemed to get a handle on yet it seems to be an important aspect.  Can
> someone help me out?
>
> If a posse member becomes Harrowed, why shouldn't the posse put him back
> down as quick as possible?  Why should they ever trust him?  And when should
> the Manitou make an attempt to gain dominion?  I don't see how the posse can
> NOT know when a member has come back from the dead since, thus far, they
> have given a proper burial to all dead humans (including the bad guys)
> primarily due to brow-beating (or Bible-thumping) from the Blessed member.
> And how do y'all go about doing a dominion test without letting the rest of
> the posse know it is occurring?
>
> Seems to me that as soon as the Manitou gains control and tries something
> fishy he's a gonner.  Is a Manitou nuts enough to grab dominion and tip his
> hand just to say, push one of our heroes in front of a speeding train
> knowing that, assuming he was seen, he's done for?  Or does it prefer to be
>
> more subtle like allow an Abomination access to the camp while he's on guard
> duty?  (Not that my posse would ever let anyone they didn't trust compIetely
> be on guard duty to begin with!) I guess I just can't seem to get inside a
> Manitou's head (no pun intended!) and see why he would take such a risk.
>
> I mean, correct me if I'm wrong here but, isn't a Manitou basically immortal
> unless he enters a human and creates a Harrowed?  Now he's very vulnerable.
> Just doesn't seem worth it.
>
> Have I completely missed the point here?  Or am I just looking too deep?
>
> As if I'm not asking enough questions, I have one more... what advice should
> I give a player about how to play it once he becomes Harrowed?  4 of my 5
> players have the roleplaying skills and experience to pull it off without me
> having to take control.
>
> Sorry for the repost...
>
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