The party cleric is dragging the party to church, how can I make things interesting in the rare case the players don't rile things up themselves?
It's not a perfect analog, but assume something like fantasy Catholicism. Picture in no way related.
>>43631733
Make the priestess a tiefling. Party will instantly lock onto the mysterious waifu.
In other words, make Pic related.
1. Don't make it a big deal. Just fast forward through the scene unless the players decide to do something.
2. Priest offers the players some advice and a quick blessing, and reminds them that there are several charities that are underfunded that they might be interested in supporting.
Yeah, I mean, if everyone is just totally not interested I'll just fast forward, but I want to slow the pace for a few sessions before it ramps back up. Slow the pace but have some interesting stuff. I'm going to have the lord mayor there and is going to talk with them about some things, so at least there is that.
Make the church actually a cult and have shit go south right quick.
Maybe have a slave on the front table being sacrificed or something. That'd wake them up. Add in some terrifying chanting and voila.
>>43631733
The people are really happy to see them. The head Priest is a kindly old man. Then there are plenty of lovely young female Clerics who are just *dying* to hear about their adventures.
I assume your PCs are mostly strapping young men. For the girls, there are equally hunky young acolytes. Also, orphans who get adorably underfoot.
>>43632174
Throw in a lady Paladin, and you've got a winner on your hands.
>>43632174
>>43632215
Congrats.
You win. You've managed to make this board an absolute shithole.
>>43632230
You jest, but as a DM, you have to hold out incentives for the players. Think about it: What are the PCs going to Church for? They're not there for the pomp and ceremony. There's no treasure there.
Apart from quest hooks, the big draw is socializing. That's what I went to church for as a child. The players don't really give a shit about the fine points of religion, they want people to talk to. I assume the church is a mainly benevolent organization, given that it's the same religion as a cleric PC.
If not that, what's the 'point' of the visit?
>>43631733
If any of them have been injured recently, have nuns or priestess' come up and inquire about their health.
Offer them access to confession booths, having the church people gently encouraging them to take part. Have quiet, understanding priests running the booths, creating a chance for the character to unload some emotional baggage.
Have clergy members offering to pray for the pparty's safety, offering to let party members join in.
>>43631733
Divine prostitution.
>>43632426
It's strange, but I've always found prostitution to be the least sexy thing ever. It's seriously a turn-off.
>>43631733
Churches do offer worship, but they do also community. A community of people who could have stuff that are potentially helpful.
It could be a way to meet an alchemist with unique formulations. Or perhaps an armorer who is looking for customers. Or even valuable information that the PC's wouldn't be inclined otherwise.
It's very much possible the church serves as the community center or pub in certain areas.
>>43632513
I'm with you there. Only doing it for the money is a major turn-offunless it is in my Chinese porn drawings when she is just using it as an excuse.
Yeah, I'm thinking of it as a more beneficial community center. I think it's mostly time to just get to work and make a load of new npcs
>>43632304
Having a salient 'point' of the visit is important I think, and something that bears thinking about. I'm not big on running filler scenes but I don't want to keep it at 11 constantly.
>>43632596
>>43632513
You know a divine prostitute wouldn't be doing it primarily for the money.
They would likely be the clergy for some Goddess of sex and it would be considered a form of worship. The money would probably go to the church anyway.
>>43632304
To commune with the divine, though portraying divinity in an interesting way can be difficult.
>>43633384
Only doing it because god demands it really isn't any sexier.
>>43632426
>>43632513
>>43632596
>>43633384
Relevant reading.
>>43633410
You do know that most churches aren't LE right?
If you think of a Divine prostitute you probably should assume they are doing it because they want to.
There's a million, billion ways to make fantasy church interesting and useful to the PCs.
Not only are healing, restoration and possible resurrection magic extremely useful, but if the PCs have a cleric then they'd probably need to spend a LOT of time and money at the church. Them miracles don't come cheap you know.
>>43633463
I didn't mean "god demands it" as in, he is coming down and forcing you. Just that is it done for faith based reasons. It's just not in line with something I find sexy.
>>43633571
Oh, ok.
I tend to do more personal magic items with history and significance to the character. I should certainly plan on some sort of hook for the paladin and cleric in the group to eventually earn some cool relic from this place. It's a large cathedral in their current home-base sort of town.
Describe in three parts:
>>Singing
Whole church rises its voices in chorus to the god of biscuits or whatever.
Have the least morally upright person in the party see dark shapes and eyes in their periphery the service.
They slowly grow and smile and wave, eventually becoming visible to the second most sinful member of the party.
>>Sermon
As the priest speaks about the important of illuminating truth with the power of love, the church responds in kind.
The three most sinful party members see his body splits open and an insect like demon begins chirping and gesticulating with a hundred tiny limbs.
No one else can see this.
>>Sacrifice
The priest asks for a volunteer for blessing. A sandy haired boy stands up and volunteers. The whole church starts humming.
Everyone but the cleric watches as the bug that burst from the priest feasts on the boy. Everywhere, bugs burst from other parishioners. They never take action against the party, gesturing to the cleric and keeping a distance.
>>Epilogue
On the end of the ritual, everyone appears normal, as they were.
If the party goes violent or apeshit, they immediately see the entire church scene as a group of normal folks at a holy service.
It was the combined force of the inner demons of the party trying to weave illusions to keep their souls from being saved.They never see the sandy haired youth again....until the boss fight against him in three sessions.
>>43632230
Shut the fuck up you fat bitch lmao
>>43633438
If I ever decide to run an ERP it'd be in this setting, because you might actually be able to make it something a bit more interesting than smut for smut's sake.
>>43632588
>It's very much possible the church serves as a the community center or pub in certain areas
>you all wake up on some church pews
>kindly priest approaches your party
>"I'm sure the ceremonial wine was delicious, but could you please leave some for the service next time?"
>Priest looks you over with an amused expression.
>"Well, if you need hangover cures, Friar Horace has just brought in some freshly-picked Bacchanalia roots. Mind you, they taste like shit if you don't dilute them in honey."
>Priest hands the party berserker a clean rag
>"I think you did a number on your, uh, kilt. Sister Heloise swears that the last time she saw someone projectile-vomit that impressively was back in her mercenary stint in the Eastern legion. You should probably visit her to get your gear cleaned and replaced."
>>43634680
Jesus. Mate. Run call of Cthulhu
>>43632358
I like the idea of using Confession as a way of encouraging players to flesh out their characters emotionally
>>43636512
I hadn't considered this before, but it's a great way to get players to consider more about their character if they have to say "Forgive me padre" at the beginning.
>>43634680
what movie is this pic from?
"You went to church. The sermon was uneventful. You are back now."
You should add a few more sentences describing it, but why would you need anything more if it's so detached from your plot?
The priest's superior is checking in and the two of them have theological differences. Its not something the church has actively made a ruling on though so neither one of them is OFFICIALLY a heretic... Yet
>>43637504
Fake Law & Order SVU quote from Ice-T
>>43637504
Photoshopped Law and Order SVU screencap from Liartown USA. Same blog that does Apple Cabin.
>>43631733
The church has fallen to secret corruption. The priest attempts to recruit your parties cleric to commit heresies. Your cleric is obviously well traveled and educated beyond the sheep-stock of his congregation and hopes that he will be receptive of the cosmic truths revealed to him by his Illithid masters.
I'm pondering up a parable that might have some clues about a tomb they will probably visit before long, that should be interesting if I can keep it short and succinct. I like the confessional idea, if anyone bites it should be fun, and one of the characters, a warlock, is from a culture that traditionally is very religious so I can probably guilt them into confessing. Especially since he stole a pretty good chunk of change from the cleric. (Withheld part of her portion of a reward for himself, that is.)
The rest will probably be meeting up with people from around town, making new connections, witnessing some groups interactions to get a better feel of the social landscape of the town, stuff like that.
Orphans, nobility, gambling house gang leaders, and dirty old wizards all gotta go to church.
Who party converts to religion and starts a crusade.
>>43644626
>starts a crusade
Starts THE Crusade, you mean. The Crusade to end all Crusades. Like, Hellsing Ultimate levels of slaying.
I don't think the party has the confidence right now to start a crusade. I've let one of them die and they keep just barely scraping by. Good church visit might do them some good, but probably not that much good.
>>43632230
Cry harder you undersexed Quaker prude, holy shit.
Father Ioannes is scheduled to conduct a baptism soon, but someone's gone and kidnapped the little shit in need of salvation. Hear the plea of the clergyman: are you bad enough dudes to ensure this child's soul is not doomed to eternal damnation?
>>43631733
It turns out that the church has an enormous science lab & you're inventing potions, medicines and stuff down there. Maybe the local church militant group is working on a holy laser cannon there.
>>43632215
>>43649495
What happened to her pants?
>>43649495
I'd be fine with those proportions if she was actually dressed in reasonable clothes or armor.
Like sure, give the girl big boobs or the guy a hunk figure, but at least dress them up first, do you like your Christmas presents unwrapped or something?
