D&D 5E OotA: Buppido Advice... [SPOILERS!]

[Bigassgeek]

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
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I want to have Buppido give in to his bloodlust and kill off one of the NPCs (I'm thinking he'll go after JimJar), but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to pull it off. The party is always together, and if Buppido comes up with an excuse to go off with just one other NPC, and comes back covered in blood and alone, my players will most likely figure out that something is wonky with the little guy.

They've just run from Demogorgon and are on the Darklake in boats. Any advice on how to whack one of the NPCs in a clever and devious manner?

 

[jrowland]

A mist rises on the Darklake.
Ixtaxlaljslkajsld (manta ray dudes) attack, but visibility is poor, boats get separated (you can still hear). Battle is quick and everyone re-groups. JimJar is missing. But soon, his body floats by, killed not by a bite, but clearly by *insert weapon type here - B, P, S*

 

[Ainulindalion]

Sleight of Hand during a combat, have Buppido stab someone. Or push them overboard.

I've had him try to trip someone off a high ledge and free Topsy and Turvy once the party discovered what they were and decided to tie them up and carry them to get help.

 

[Bigassgeek]

Good advice, and I might go either of those routes. I wish I could have him go full out "removing the organs and arranging them in a way significant to only him" though. Hmm...

 

[ad_hoc]

Good advice, and I might go either of those routes. I wish I could have him go full out "removing the organs and arranging them in a way significant to only him" though. Hmm...

Have people find the body after a long rest.

 

[CapnZapp]

A mist rises on the Darklake.
Ixtaxlaljslkajsld

Reason for laugh point

 

[darjr]

I had a few of the NPCs leave for 'reasons'. Some of them showed up dead. Nicely my players would occasionally split up to forage.

 

[77IM]

Buppido: "Hey you guys get some rest, I'll take first watch."

 

[Warmaster Horus]

Buppido: "Hey you guys get some rest, I'll take first watch."

Buppido waits until his victim is on watch, then sneaks up on them and scratches them with a drow sleep poison-tipped dart. Drags them into a nearby tunnel for his fun, then returns in time to look like he's been asleep the whole time. He also plants incriminating evidence on the person he thinks is the greatest threat to his grand plan.

 

[imabaer]

How far ahead have you read? Once you get to Gracklestugh, Buppido gives the party the slip and runs to his lair, which is pretty wonderfully atmospheric: the entire floor is difficult terrain because of all the dismembered body parts of his victims lying around. Unless you're hellbent on having him sabotage now, it's worth keeping him alive until then.