My players started off fine, killing every last goblin for quest, but then once in town, a Redbrand surrendered at the tap house. They took him inside and started interrogating him roughly. Again, not a problem for me. Then I had Townmaster rush in to calm things down and do his cowardly thing, but the party ignored him and so he ran off to get Sildar who is supposed to be doing his thing for the town. While he is gone, the prisoner tells them he's going to be let go and they aren't getting anything more out of him. So they kill him, in the tap house, right there, and move the bodies they left in the street.
As they leave to head for hideout, fat man and Sildar come running up. Sildar goes to talk to party, letting them know, "hey, you guys helped me, and i'm grateful. We do need to deal with the redbrands, but we need to keep in on the DL." Meanwhile, fatman walks into the tap house and sees the bodies, including the prisoner he saw tortured and comes running back out, fuming.
Sildar tells them, look, I understand, he wasn't cooperating and you're under pressure to find the family, but you can't just go around doing that kind of stuff in town. It looks bad for everyone. You guys need to lay low for a bit, and let me sort this out. Go find that family before it's too late."
So, PCs head to the hideout, forest entrance.
Now, my players have been cutting the line super close to munchkining long rests. They know they have a family to rescue, but are planning to rest and wait for dark to recharge all their abilities. I attempt to nudge them towards a short rest to keep things going, but they insist on long rest. Fair enough. They do their thing, go through the hideout, find the family in the cells. Dead, entire family. Medicine check, murdered approx 2 hours ago by how far rigormortis has set in.
Goes over like a lead balloon as everyone realizes what the long rest cost them, look of shock on their faces was priceless. They get it now. Additionally, when they get back to town, fatman will have been telling everyone what brutes the party is and how they are worse than the redbrands. Some, but not all houses will close their shutters and lock their doors as their wagon rolls into town, mothers will be hiding the kids.
They could have smoothed this over in a day or two with the family telling how brave and courageous the party was when rescuing them, but instead, they are bringing the family back for burial in the wagon.
Phandelver will mourn, and the party will be getting the cold shoulder from everyone but their staunchest allies and perhaps a certain woman in town they have yet to meet that likes how they handle things.
