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As a DM, how would you catch...
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<blockquote data-quote="Scotley" data-source="post: 2157825" data-attributes="member: 11520"><p>Interesting concept, first I would ask who will be in charge of the merchant's operations in her absence. Do they have the resources to hire searchers in addition to the legal authority. That opens up lots of possibilities-bounty hunters, spies and thugs of all descriptions can be involved. On the legal side, how closely are the church and state aligned? If you get a lawful church involved you get access to lots of divinations and Paladins as searchers. </p><p></p><p>In terms of spells that might be used, Scrying is the obvious choice. Bards, Clerics, Druids, and Wizard/Sorcerers all get access to it many as early as 7th level. This allows the caster to see the Merchant and 10' of her surroundings. If that isn't enough to reveal her location in itself, then assuming she is reasonably intelligent and somewhat familiar with magic she might well try to get a message to anyone scrying her about her location. Once they start to get close the searchers can use Locate Creature or Prying Eyes to home in on her. Greater Scrying will give the searchers a chance to send the merchant information via the message spell. Thus, they could let her know when they are watching so she could state her location (scry is auditory too) or the names of her captors. I suspect they aren't being too careful about concealing their identity around her. If people know where the characters are based or normally operate a bit of old fashioned detective work might reveal their lair. Given the method of the abduction, the searchers may suspect a Druid. If so, they may put pressure on the local Druidic hierarchy to reveal the kidnapper. The if you want to make it really easy for the searchers just give them access to the Discern Location spell. That foils most protections against divinations and tells the caster exactly where the person is. All they need is some possession belonging to the Merchant and they can find her. This will require a caster of relatively high level--its an eighth level spell, but if that is not an issue then she is as good as found. Alternatives you might want to read up on include Legend Lore and Vision. </p><p></p><p>If you need to go the non-magical route it will be a little harder, but I suspect that the players will leave some sort of clues. I would suggest a mix of at least some of the following in the search party--rogues, scouts, bards, and rangers. Paladins, spell casters barbarians and psionic types can all add greatly to the chances for success. I'm sure others can recommend some prestige classes as well. You'll need searchers with the skills to investigate--gather information, survival--with tracking, search, spot, and perhaps profession bounty hunter or law enforcer. They would need to look into who has shown and interest in the Merchant, Druids in the area and his associates, other unusual activities in the area. All of these things can lead back to the party. How did they discover the Merchant? Is their someone how knows the party was interested in her? Someone they used as a contact? </p><p></p><p>That's what I can come up with off the top of my head. It should give you an idea of where to start. </p><p></p><p></p><p>If you need to go the non-magical route it will be a little harder, but I suspect that the players will leave some sort of clues. I would suggest a mix of at least some of the following in the search party--rogues, scouts, bards, and rangers. Paladins, spell casters barbarians and psionic types can all add greatly to the chances for sucess. I'm sure others can recommend some prestige classes as well. You'll need searchers with the skills to investigage--gather information, survival--with tracking, search, spot, and perhaps profession bounty hunter or law enforcer. They would need to look into who has shown and interest in the Merchant, Druids in the area and his associates, other unusual activities in the area. All of these things can lead back to the party. How did they discover the Merchant? Is their someone how knows the party was interested in her? Someone they used as a contact? </p><p></p><p>That's what I can come up with off the top of my head. It should give you an idea of where to start.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Scotley, post: 2157825, member: 11520"] Interesting concept, first I would ask who will be in charge of the merchant's operations in her absence. Do they have the resources to hire searchers in addition to the legal authority. That opens up lots of possibilities-bounty hunters, spies and thugs of all descriptions can be involved. On the legal side, how closely are the church and state aligned? If you get a lawful church involved you get access to lots of divinations and Paladins as searchers. In terms of spells that might be used, Scrying is the obvious choice. Bards, Clerics, Druids, and Wizard/Sorcerers all get access to it many as early as 7th level. This allows the caster to see the Merchant and 10' of her surroundings. If that isn't enough to reveal her location in itself, then assuming she is reasonably intelligent and somewhat familiar with magic she might well try to get a message to anyone scrying her about her location. Once they start to get close the searchers can use Locate Creature or Prying Eyes to home in on her. Greater Scrying will give the searchers a chance to send the merchant information via the message spell. Thus, they could let her know when they are watching so she could state her location (scry is auditory too) or the names of her captors. I suspect they aren't being too careful about concealing their identity around her. If people know where the characters are based or normally operate a bit of old fashioned detective work might reveal their lair. Given the method of the abduction, the searchers may suspect a Druid. If so, they may put pressure on the local Druidic hierarchy to reveal the kidnapper. The if you want to make it really easy for the searchers just give them access to the Discern Location spell. That foils most protections against divinations and tells the caster exactly where the person is. All they need is some possession belonging to the Merchant and they can find her. This will require a caster of relatively high level--its an eighth level spell, but if that is not an issue then she is as good as found. Alternatives you might want to read up on include Legend Lore and Vision. If you need to go the non-magical route it will be a little harder, but I suspect that the players will leave some sort of clues. I would suggest a mix of at least some of the following in the search party--rogues, scouts, bards, and rangers. Paladins, spell casters barbarians and psionic types can all add greatly to the chances for success. I'm sure others can recommend some prestige classes as well. You'll need searchers with the skills to investigate--gather information, survival--with tracking, search, spot, and perhaps profession bounty hunter or law enforcer. They would need to look into who has shown and interest in the Merchant, Druids in the area and his associates, other unusual activities in the area. All of these things can lead back to the party. How did they discover the Merchant? Is their someone how knows the party was interested in her? Someone they used as a contact? That's what I can come up with off the top of my head. It should give you an idea of where to start. If you need to go the non-magical route it will be a little harder, but I suspect that the players will leave some sort of clues. I would suggest a mix of at least some of the following in the search party--rogues, scouts, bards, and rangers. Paladins, spell casters barbarians and psionic types can all add greatly to the chances for sucess. I'm sure others can recommend some prestige classes as well. You'll need searchers with the skills to investigage--gather information, survival--with tracking, search, spot, and perhaps profession bounty hunter or law enforcer. They would need to look into who has shown and interest in the Merchant, Druids in the area and his associates, other unusual activities in the area. All of these things can lead back to the party. How did they discover the Merchant? Is their someone how knows the party was interested in her? Someone they used as a contact? That's what I can come up with off the top of my head. It should give you an idea of where to start. [/QUOTE]
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