Captured by the Children of the Sphinx - Player options

[Yabusama]

Warning contains Masks Spoilers





I am seeking advice on the following situation during my Masks campaign. During the last session the intrepid investigators discovered an entrance to the labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Giza plateau and the Sphinx. As they explored (woefully under prepared by the way) they encountered a group of Children of the Sphinx. In the ensuing fire fight one of the party (an ex-soldier of the Great War) was overcome with flashbacks to the trenches and was captured by one the Children. He was then whisked away in to the darkness and despite the party's best efforts they couldn't locate him.

So poor old Frank has been locked up in the the cells pending a rather nice sacrifice in about two weeks time and the dark of the moon and the resurrection of Nitocris. He could be sacrificed earlier but I think it will add extra spice to the events if he is one of the many victims dipped in the leech pit.

Anyway, back to my question. Obviously this player has a very limited role to play until the big ceremony but he is going to be present next session, what can I do to keep him entertained albeit in small episodes? I was thinking of explaining the complete darkness, the cramped cells, the increasing numbers of sacrificial victims being added in readiness for the big day. He doesn't speak a word of Arabic so maybe a western victim might be able to relay some information to him too? I should also add that the player is not, ahem, the smartest cookie and won't be able to out fox me with a cunning plan!

Basically how do you keep a sacrificial victim's player happy for a session?

[Gaffer]

What if the western victim is a cultist who has transgressed and is being punished? The captive PC could learn quite a bit about the ceremony and/or the cult.

And I would definitely provide him with a chance for escape, either related to his comrades' activities or independent of them.
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"Two in the head, you know he's dead." <heh-heh>

[Fredde72]

Gaffers suggestion is great, give him some information through a western cultist in captivity.

Then let them escape together and get back to the party. Then the party get the added morale descision what to do with a (blood?)crazy cultist that saved there friend.

I think this would work out best if you can play the escape before next session, in the worst case by email.

/ Fredrik

[chicklewis]

There is no way you should play a side game for that one captured character. Big mistake, imo.

Have the guy roll up another character who can be encountered wherever the party is now. Regretfully take the old character sheet away from the player, let him assume that his character is, sadly, no longer among the living. Then everyone will be THRILLED when the character appears alive, being dipped towards the leeches.

If both old and new characters somehow survive, the player can decide which one he wants to use for the next game, and the other can become a useful NPC.
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"Men choose as their prophets those who tell them that their hopes are true."
- Lord Dunsany