Chuul + Neogi privateers - encounters?

[Ry]

Someone mentioned using the Neogi as a seafaring slaver people in their next campaign.

I'd like to use something similar, but with Neogi being served by Chuul instead of Umber Hulks. I was wondering if anyone had ideas for encounters that could make the neogi both a threat and something you might have to bargain with... I don't want them to just be "monsters" in the sense of "Hey, Neogi, time to start killin'"

Any suggestions?

 

[SteelDraco]

Basically, you have to find some way to shift them from 'monsters' to 'bad people'. It helps if they're important to the setting and the characters in some way, so that they don't just get slaughtered.

I'd consider having them be one of the primary mercantile powers of the setting, especially magic items. If the PCs need them, then the neogi become something they have to deal with, while remembering that these are not nice creatures. That sets you up for better roleplaying opportunities than just "A neogi ship! Attack!" I mean, they could do that, but then they might have to face an embargo, and then watch their home city starve.

 

[Nifft]

The society from which the PCs come permits slavery. This allows them to buy cheap labor (literally).

The Neogi trade slaves. They trade more than just slaves, though. Their ships bring food, weapons, fine spices and silks, and art goods. The remote frontier location where the PCs live is supplied by merchants from many races, including the Neogi.

Who are the bad bad guys? Well, who says you need a "kill on sight" race? Make it an organization instead. They wear red hats or something. Until, one day, they go undercover by removing their red hats. Mua-ha-ha!

Anyway. You could also use traditional monsters (Dragons, Mind Flayers, etc.) as worse-than-Neogi options.

Gives you a good reason for racism -- since the Neogi really are evil bastards.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Pants]

I have to say...

I really enjoyed the appearance of the neogi in some of the last Downer strips. Makes me want to use them more/at all

 

[Ry]

Yeah, that's what reminded me of them too. I liked how in the old Astromundi Cluster (best spelljammer product evar) they were so widespread that Common had been replaced by Neogi.

For my campaign, I think the first time they're encountered should be within a monster-friendly city - as merchants.

 

[Wraith Form]

For my campaign, I think the first time they're encountered should be within a monster-friendly city - as merchants.

Yeah, but not as friendly merchants, lol.

 

[Nifft]

Yeah, but not as friendly merchants, lol.

I disagree. They should be very friendly. They should offer credit on easy terms! But if you fall behind in payments, they'll sell you in the next country.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Wraith Form]

Touché!

 

[Ry]

I think the first encounter they will be coming up on a crowd; in the middle they'll think there's a puppet show (man standing next to a weird thing that's bobbing around and talking) but actually the man is being auctioned off (the puppet isn't a puppet, that's a Neogi).

 

[The Cardinal]

Some way down the road in my current Wilderlands campaign, the Neogi will appear as seafaring slavers - though in truth they come from space, somewhere beyond the Imperial Rim, and the campaign is actually a crossover between Wilderlands of High Fantasy & Dragonstar.
However, neither the Neogi nor their umber hulks slaves will usually appear in public. Instead the Neogi - who like to use chuul slaves as mounts in my campaign - will use slaves from a "front man" race to manage most deals and negotiations. I'm not quite sure which race I'll pick for this role, but at the moment my favorites are some variant of halflings or an exotic (pseudo-asian) elven sub-species...