mcmillan
Adventurer
Should point out this will contain spoilers for the end of Revelations from the Mouth of a Mad Man. So if you're concerned about such things don't read the rest.
So the technologist Artificer in my party has been making friends with Pemberton since he was introduced. We're now in adventure 6, and I decided he's earned enough trust to start being let in on some of Pemberton's plans, and he is willing to help as long as he doesn't have to end up directly going against his own government. So Faral knows Pemberton is maneuvering to gain power in Ber, though doesn't know his history and true identity as a dragon. Pemberton also let Faral in on the secret that he actually has control over Tinker Oddcog, though not how many other duplicants are out there. I figured that made since so they are both on the same page about what's happening with the immediate goals of the party, which caused Faral's player to say "let me see the specs!" I've left it up to the player if he wants to let the rest of the group in. They may be ok with it, since they've already gotten kind of suspicious of Harkover Lee, especially after he started sending questions when their report first mentioned Pemberton showing up in Ber.
As for the challenges, the PCs seem to have the railway challenge well under control and will likely win that. They were unable to stop Lya from working her plan to cause the attack on the Risuri fort, though in the aftermath they worked out what happened. While not having enough proof of Lya's or the Bruse's involvement to publicly call them out, the party has Cavallo's support from their actions visiting with him that he is willing to make a public pledge to the Bruse on the condition that his daughter gets an official position at the court as "keep your enemies closer" move. That along with some rather theatrical methods of sabotage to the opposing railway team put the PCs in a good position to earn the Bruse's vote. The other two votes are still up for grabs as the party hasn't really made much effort to gain their favor yet.
So now I'm trying to decide how Pemberton will want to approach things at the end of this adventure. My thoughts so far:
If the Obscurati win - probably play out similar to how originally written. Pemberton wouldn't want let the Ob have Tinker, and decides it's time to make his move. Maybe keep his true identity a secret, pretending Terakalir is just a "foster daughter" who he raised after finding the egg. Once everybody shows up in his lair, Pemberton could let the PCs win after helping take out Lya in order to keep the ability to have Faral on his side in secret to keep an eye of Harkover.
If the PCs win - Less reason to reveal himself just yet and let the PC's take the "Tinker" duplicant. Now has additional eyes in Risur. Question being when Pemberton would make a public move now?
Also means cutting out a big chunk of the adventure. Since the group has taken to ship battles, I might have the Ob try to intercept them on the way back home to keep a little more of pacing before they level for the next adventure. Might also give a side quest before they go to help Glaucia track down a criminal as a way to spotlight the Vekeshi mystic in the party that tried to get a connection with her.
Anybody have their own thoughts about the situation?
So the technologist Artificer in my party has been making friends with Pemberton since he was introduced. We're now in adventure 6, and I decided he's earned enough trust to start being let in on some of Pemberton's plans, and he is willing to help as long as he doesn't have to end up directly going against his own government. So Faral knows Pemberton is maneuvering to gain power in Ber, though doesn't know his history and true identity as a dragon. Pemberton also let Faral in on the secret that he actually has control over Tinker Oddcog, though not how many other duplicants are out there. I figured that made since so they are both on the same page about what's happening with the immediate goals of the party, which caused Faral's player to say "let me see the specs!" I've left it up to the player if he wants to let the rest of the group in. They may be ok with it, since they've already gotten kind of suspicious of Harkover Lee, especially after he started sending questions when their report first mentioned Pemberton showing up in Ber.
As for the challenges, the PCs seem to have the railway challenge well under control and will likely win that. They were unable to stop Lya from working her plan to cause the attack on the Risuri fort, though in the aftermath they worked out what happened. While not having enough proof of Lya's or the Bruse's involvement to publicly call them out, the party has Cavallo's support from their actions visiting with him that he is willing to make a public pledge to the Bruse on the condition that his daughter gets an official position at the court as "keep your enemies closer" move. That along with some rather theatrical methods of sabotage to the opposing railway team put the PCs in a good position to earn the Bruse's vote. The other two votes are still up for grabs as the party hasn't really made much effort to gain their favor yet.
So now I'm trying to decide how Pemberton will want to approach things at the end of this adventure. My thoughts so far:
If the Obscurati win - probably play out similar to how originally written. Pemberton wouldn't want let the Ob have Tinker, and decides it's time to make his move. Maybe keep his true identity a secret, pretending Terakalir is just a "foster daughter" who he raised after finding the egg. Once everybody shows up in his lair, Pemberton could let the PCs win after helping take out Lya in order to keep the ability to have Faral on his side in secret to keep an eye of Harkover.
If the PCs win - Less reason to reveal himself just yet and let the PC's take the "Tinker" duplicant. Now has additional eyes in Risur. Question being when Pemberton would make a public move now?
Also means cutting out a big chunk of the adventure. Since the group has taken to ship battles, I might have the Ob try to intercept them on the way back home to keep a little more of pacing before they level for the next adventure. Might also give a side quest before they go to help Glaucia track down a criminal as a way to spotlight the Vekeshi mystic in the party that tried to get a connection with her.
Anybody have their own thoughts about the situation?
