The Dark Powers Check

The work game on Thursday was both quite exciting but also had a rather unexpected outcome - the PCs took an action I really didn't expect, and then didn't feel overly good about it. There's going to be some considerable fallout from that, which is nice.

One of the consequences of this was that I decided to go looking for the "Dark Powers Check" that was a fixture of the 2nd Edition iteration of Ravenloft. The result was, unfortunately, unspectacular: the base chance of an action coming to the notice of the Dark Powers is 1%, modified by the DM based on... not much, really.

The upshot of this is that it's actually unlikely that the PCs will ever fail one of these checks, never mind multiple checks over the course of a campaign.

So, I won't be doing that.

What I think is rather more interesting, and what I'll therefore be doing, is instead having the PCs come to the notice of the Dark Powers whenever I think they might - and at that point they are given a choice. Of course, they might not know that it's a choice...

So, in the particular instance in question, one of my PCs will be receiving a gift from "his guardian angel". That PC may then try out this gift or not, and in so doing will either accept or reject the enticement.

The initial stage of corruption will then see the PC gain some small power in return for a minor, cosmetic change to the character. But as with all good temptations, only the first taste is free.

Per the "Ravenloft" setting book, there are six stages in the fall to corruption:

1. The Enticement: The character is presented with an offer that is too good to be true, offered either as an outright gift or as a reward for some good service. The offer may, of course, be accepted or rejected. If accepted, the character gains a free skill proficiency (or upgrades a proficiency to expertise), in return for some minor cosmetic change to the character (with no mechanical effect). But then they move on to...
   
2. The Invitation: The PC is approached by a friendly NPC who starts to draw them into the darker mysteries of the realm. Initially, this just involves coming into the orbit of a cult dedicated to the Dark Powers, with no expectation from the PC. After a few meetings, though, the PC is invited to formally join the organisation. If they do so, the PC gains another minor power, equivalent to the feat, but suffers a more noticeable, although still minor, disfigurement.
   
3. The Embrace: This is the point where things get serious. At the behest of the cult, the PC is asked to perform some clearly evil act. In return, they will be initiated into some deeper mysteries of the cult. In doing so, they suffer another, more serious, disfigurement, but the reward is another free feat or a fairly powerful magic item.
   
4. The Touch of Darkness: This is as far as I expect it to go. The PC is offered control of the cult, deeper magic, or some other major boon, but must commit to the service of the Dark Powers...
   
5. Creature of Ravenloft: I don't expect the campaign to ever get this far, so I'll leave this blank for now. If need be, the 2nd Edition materials will provide guidance.
   
6. Lord of a Domain: As above.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the PC in question may reject the Enticement out of hand, and that no further opportunities for this to come into play will appear. But we'll see - this campaign is starting to get really quite interesting...