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<blockquote data-quote="Set" data-source="post: 3987861" data-attributes="member: 41584">Watch any episode of the Sopranos.&nbsp; Imagine now that whoever the sleazy backroom negotiator is doesn't have a thug with a crowbar, but *does* have the ability to breath a cone of fire (lightning, acid, whatever) that does 16d8 damage.&quot;You do this thing, you pay the money, and you keep your mouth shut, see?&nbsp; You don't wanna get called to see the boss.&nbsp; People who get called to see the boss, they don't come back, see?&nbsp; The boss has an appetite...&quot;&quot;Yeah, that's right, I'm selling protection.&nbsp; We got some nasty fires that crop up in the summer months, and my boys, we keep lots of water pumped up and stored to put out those 'summer fires.'&nbsp; Here, let me put it another way; You got a real nice [farm, house, manor, village, castle] here.&nbsp; Be a shame if something wuz ta happen to it...&quot;&quot;I know you need the money to cover the crop loss, Willy, and I can get the boss to cover your loss, but there's gonna be interest, and I don't gotta tell you what happens to people who don't repay the bosses loans *promptly* do I?&nbsp; You remember what happened to the Greene's mill?&nbsp; Yeah, that wasn't no 'freak storm.'&nbsp; Around these parts, lightning really can strike twice, if ya know what I'm sayin'...&quot;Pretty much any political intrigue or backroom dealing or mafia racket could even more easily be run by a multi-tonned lizard, sitting in a cave, entertaining a stream of flunkies who have been cowed into working for him (initially, although the most venal of them would end up loving working for the 'toughest guy on the block' and being recognized on the streets of their village or town as being untouchable, working for 'the boss').&nbsp; Extortion, protection rackets, *actual protection* (from other monsters in the area), assassinations, various acts of sabotage or harassment, etc.&nbsp; A dragon would make one hell of a crime boss.&quot;Your Grace, the peasants in Hillsdale have gathered together tribute of, ahem, 75 gold pieces and a masterwork suit of plate, which they claim is all they could scrape together.&nbsp; They beseech your intervention in the matter of the Hobgoblin raids that have been destroying their crops, poaching their livestock and taking away prisoners for who knows what foul ends.&nbsp; They have thoughtfully provided this map showing the location of the so-called 'fort' in which these brutes are currently holed up.&quot;&quot;That 'fort' is built over some old Dwarven mines.&quot;&quot;I did not know that, your Grace.&quot;&quot;Of course not, your grandparents weren't born yet.&nbsp; Tell the sniveling weaklings that I accept the first half of their tribute, and that the Hobgoblins shall be dealt with.&nbsp; I expect the remainder of their debt to me to be paid at the end of the next growing season, or there shall be consequences.&quot;&quot;That seems exceedingly generous, great one...&quot;&quot;The Hobgoblin raiders may well be using these captured villagers to work the mines, and there may be some value in claiming this site.&nbsp; Once I kill enough of them, the remaining Hobgoblins will be informed that they are operating within my territory, and that the local villages are part of my domain.&nbsp; Things should proceed smoothly.&nbsp; I will encourage them to take slaves from the other side of the forest, and keep the mines open...&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Set, post: 3987861, member: 41584"] Watch any episode of the Sopranos. Imagine now that whoever the sleazy backroom negotiator is doesn't have a thug with a crowbar, but *does* have the ability to breath a cone of fire (lightning, acid, whatever) that does 16d8 damage. "You do this thing, you pay the money, and you keep your mouth shut, see? You don't wanna get called to see the boss. People who get called to see the boss, they don't come back, see? The boss has an [i]appetite[/i]..." "Yeah, that's right, I'm selling protection. We got some nasty fires that crop up in the summer months, and my boys, we keep lots of water pumped up and stored to put out those 'summer fires.' Here, let me put it another way; You got a real nice [farm, house, manor, village, castle] here. Be a shame if something wuz ta [i] happen [/i] to it..." "I know you need the money to cover the crop loss, Willy, and I can get the boss to cover your loss, but there's gonna be interest, and I don't gotta tell you what happens to people who don't repay the bosses loans *promptly* do I? You remember what happened to the Greene's mill? Yeah, that wasn't no 'freak storm.' Around these parts, lightning really can strike twice, if ya know what I'm sayin'..." Pretty much any political intrigue or backroom dealing or mafia racket could even more easily be run by a multi-tonned lizard, sitting in a cave, entertaining a stream of flunkies who have been cowed into working for him (initially, although the most venal of them would end up loving working for the 'toughest guy on the block' and being recognized on the streets of their village or town as being untouchable, working for 'the boss'). Extortion, protection rackets, *actual protection* (from other monsters in the area), assassinations, various acts of sabotage or harassment, etc. A dragon would make one hell of a crime boss. "Your Grace, the peasants in Hillsdale have gathered together tribute of, ahem, 75 gold pieces and a masterwork suit of plate, which they claim is all they could scrape together. They beseech your intervention in the matter of the Hobgoblin raids that have been destroying their crops, poaching their livestock and taking away prisoners for who knows what foul ends. They have thoughtfully provided this map showing the location of the so-called 'fort' in which these brutes are currently holed up." "That 'fort' is built over some old Dwarven mines." "I did not know that, your Grace." "Of course not, your grandparents weren't born yet. Tell the sniveling weaklings that I accept the [i] first half [/i] of their tribute, and that the Hobgoblins shall be dealt with. I expect the remainder of their debt to me to be paid at the end of the next growing season, or there shall be consequences." "That seems exceedingly generous, great one..." "The Hobgoblin raiders may well be using these captured villagers to work the mines, and there may be some value in claiming this site. Once I kill enough of them, the remaining Hobgoblins will be informed that they are operating within my territory, and that the local villages are part of my domain. Things should proceed smoothly. I will encourage them to take slaves from the other side of the forest, and keep the mines open..." [/QUOTE]

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