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Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 5596023" data-attributes="member: 3192">I don't limit the intentions of the PCs.  If they want to seek the Rod of Seven Parts at minute one of the campaign, I say "go for it".  If they can find a piece, then they must have managed a way through all of the levels of challenges that lead up to a treasure of its level.  Good for them.  However, if they're still 1st level and go hang out in 1st level territory with a known powerful treasure (and who's going to hide such a thing and never play around with it?), guess who's going to be a target for every thief and enemy in or near that village?Sages are very badly designed in AD&D. I don't know how they are designed in 4E, but if they have high level M-U spells or Cleric abilities, perhaps as rituals, these dudes are high level monsters.  They may hire men-at-arms (the PCs) for menials tasks, but they are going to use whatever means are in their power to achieve their ends according to their intelligence.  Using their scrying ability is a no brainer.  They should already know the whereabouts of the stolen goods and missing person.  They should have already had some defenses up in case of such of an attack.  In fact, the enemy who committed the crime is probably suitable to the level of the Sages - and therefore not to the level of the PCs.  But perhaps the enemy isn't higher level? Perhaps they were lucky and the sages simply need some muscle to retrieve these two outside of civilization? (otherwise they'd just go to the local ruler)  The point is, they should already have all of the information resources within their grasp to selectively give to the PCs in return for their services, plus whatever "quest complete" treasure the party barters for as well.If any PC or group of PCs can pay the price, whether through haggling, coin, goods, or services, then they get what they are paying for.  I mean, if they're dealing with an honest seller.High level characters/monsters are always busy with other matters, but that doesn't mean the retrieval of their ally and goods isn't a goal for them.  In the situation you are describing I see it as similar to high level PCs sending out hirelings to steal a few things from an enemy.  If the PCs did this, then hopefully they have a clue as to how powerful this enemy is and the forces needed to overcome/slip by them.  They would also instruct the hirelings on where they were going, what they were to do, the dangers involved, etc.  Sages are bound to know a lot, if not really being capable of doing a lot.  I'd ask the question, "what happened to their regular bootlickers that they have to send us?"Flexibility depends upon the NPC and other factors. If the players are reputable to the town leaders, then it's not really the soldiers who are accompanying them. Rather the other way around from their point of view.  If goblins coming to raid the town are found, then the guards will fight for their town, the PCs are aiding. Or, if a single recon NPC was sent along and not a dozen guards, then he or she retreats to deliver the message.  If the PCs lead any guard(s) outside of the town's zone of control, then they are going to be told, "that's monster country" and head back.  Of course there are goblins out there, that's where goblins live.</blockquote>

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