A good quality sub overall, with a coherent backstory. I also quite like the interweaving b/w the narrative story and the scientific/medical excerpts.
Splendid job! A detailed, yet enthralling account of a horrific creature that has numerous applications in a campaign setting; I couldn't find a single thing I didn't like about this.
Neat idea. Memory loss is a very interesting tool. Anyone who's watched 'Regarding Henry', 'Total Recall', 'Push', 'The Majestic', etc. knows that whole stories can be based on someone getting amnesia. Specifically if used on a main character (or PC). I do have a few questions about the moths in your submission. When confronting their creator, the larvae appear to have an attack capacity. Somehow they lunge off of the mortal they start chowing down on the deity. Yet later, they sound more like a torture device used by jailer priests. Easily controlled. I understand that they were changed after their attack on the deity, but I saw the change as being from complete memory loss to more of a selective amnesia. Would you care to explain the discrepancy? And finally, how is it a deity was having a hard time killing a batch of moths? I do like the irony of the story, but why couldn't he handle the situation much better, where a mortal with a fly swatter, or dare I say it, a can of bug spray, would have kicked butt? Just a few thoughts in reconciling the story. Overall I liked it.
Enjoyed it a lot!
I wouldn't think this is the best way to collect soldiers for a cause, though, as it would require extreme patience and care. But for more powerful and worthwhile individuals, like the PCs... *evil laughter*
Some (unscrupulous) governments practice selective use of memory moths on state enemies (usually before banishment). Memory eradication may even extend to some individuals they wish to protect, such as retired spies and other intelligence officers. Usage of the larvae in this way is generally easier, as the retired officer often understands the necessity and will willingly self-direct their thoughts to all aspects of their service. They will often remember most of the mundane details of these years, including their cover job, but not the intrigue.
Excellent stuff. I actually first came to Strolen's Citadel many years ago looking for something like this.
I particularly like 19. I am thinking of using it in the following way: make your PCs design their characters in gory detail, give them praise for good backgrounds, make them feel proud, then, at the beginning of your session ask them each what their single favourite moment in their character background is. Then take their character sheets away and make them play "blind" (no running knowledge of their stats) with only one thing to hold onto: they can remember that one moment of their character's background. At the end of the adventure, perhaps they find where the evil wizard has stored their personalities...
Lifeforms (Fauna) (Any)