help me think of motivations for a dnd villain in a one off

[Rigel]

beautiful idea, McZealot

[Ad Bot]

[Magus]

Makes me think of a christmas one-off my sister ran. Santa asked us to go into a dungeon to rescue Rudolf (who was a silver dragon) because the elves have kidnapped him, but it turned out the elves were striking for labor rights and Rudolf (and the other reindeer too, which were various draconic creatures as well) was helping them.

[Waru]

i like mczealots idea

[Conan]

to make motivation for finding the real Canta Slaus, the townspeople could just not believe your claims that this Canta Slaus isn't the real one, and Canta Slaus would use it to his advantage in trying to remove you guys from the picture.

then once you get the real canta slaus back, you guys realize as the townspeople are also in on this, as the fake one has promised to give them power within their cult.

then triple twist on your players as they learn that Canta Slaus was kept alive as the seed for the rebirth of the Winter God, and the only way to stop him from turning is to kill him, if the sacrifices are completed, and stopping the last needed sacrifice turns out to be very very difficult as the town has been fortified while you were away finding Canta Slaus. Canta Slaus wouldn't mind taking one for the world, but expresses lament at all the people that would go without gifts and the loss of yet another powerful good force in the world. morally ambiguous scenarios for the win

[p0rtalGeek]

He couldn't get laid

[Shift Kitty]

canta slaus, chaotic good barbarian socalist warlord, is bringing presents for the townpeople. the party can be assured that he will be bring them each a piece of (decent) magical equipment, which will also serve as their reward for the quest. unfortunately, attacked and captured along the road, his famous red suit is taken and used to impersonate him alongside an illusion spell. when canta slaus arrives in town, he begins making odd demands. in order for the spirit of christmas to stay alive, and maintain the gift-giving tradition, he will need one/a few sacrifices. preferably children.

as the party races to stop/investigate the sacrifices they discover that this man is not in fact canta slaus--for example, he is eating reindeer stew, something canta would never do. they slowly realize that a terrible cult has impersonated canta in order to secure the sacrifice to resurrect the fallen Winter God on Winter Solstice, who will bring about an eternal winter unless the party can find and free Canta Slaus and help him defeat the terrible evil.

I love this.

[McZealot]

to make motivation for finding the real Canta Slaus, the townspeople could just not believe your claims that this Canta Slaus isn't the real one, and Canta Slaus would use it to his advantage in trying to remove you guys from the picture.

preferably canta is set up in a nice fort or something as the town prepares for the sacrifices, so he will be in a position of power and speaking against him is blasphemy. maybe the party could be attacked by the cultists as they speak to expose canta.

then once you get the real canta slaus back, you guys realize as the townspeople are also in on this, as the fake one has promised to give them power within their cult.

this doesnt make sense. why would he be in disguise if the whole town knew? also, i doubt OP wants to turn his main town evil lol. I think this would work if a local count/lord was in on it with fake Canta, and vouched for him.

then triple twist on your players as they learn that Canta Slaus was kept alive as the seed for the rebirth of the Winter God, and the only way to stop him from turning is to kill him, if the sacrifices are completed, and stopping the last needed sacrifice turns out to be very very difficult as the town has been fortified while you were away finding Canta Slaus. Canta Slaus wouldn't mind taking one for the world, but expresses lament at all the people that would go without gifts and the loss of yet another powerful good force in the world. morally ambiguous scenarios for the win

I'm not sure if a Christmas game is the time for moral ambiguity, but if you have starfish players you could offer to let them kill Canta for his sack of magic goods. Alternatively, Canta dies in the fight against the Winter God and either a PC or important NPC sacrifices themselves to become the new Canta and keep spreading joy throughout the world.

[Ipquarx]

carrots And Dragons

this is the true meaning

[Rigel]

this is the true meaning

Recent filenames for my new campaign have included: "Drugs & Dens" and "Dank & Dark"