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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 4471373" data-attributes="member: 12037">Smoke & MirrorsThe adventuring group split up a bit, each person handling their own business for a time, though they made plans for the future. Tordek wanted to return to the Temple they found and claim it as their own, though he wasn't sure of an exact plan yet. Quinn talked to his mentor, Christopher Kallis, about looking for troops they could recruit into a mercenary company based out of Hent. Their town had fallen on hard times and needed some kind of boost; in a dangerous world, if they could build up a reputation, then they could make a lot of money off such a venture. The others mostly milled around town, helped with local organizations, and enjoyed themselves.Eventually, time came for the group to re-enter Kelbrook, to revisit Caelynnasidhe to inquire as to what she had found out for them. Using the same path as last time, they traversed the forest, more accustomed to the path. Winter was in full swing at this point, with the ground covered in snow, making travel more difficult, however.The first night they slept in the forest, Alandra was awakened by the sounds of nearby animals - wolves. The animals attacked, apparently undeterred by the fire. Grabbing her bow and calling for the others to get up, she fired on one of the closer ones. There were at least half a dozen, and they were brazen about their attacks. As the others rose and grabbed their weapons, unfortunately armorless in the night, she noticed at the edge of the firelight a larger, more animalistic wolf - a fey wolf leading the others.As the newly awakened adventurers engaged the wolves, their leader let out a howl, and they retreated as quickly as they had arrived. The group reformed by the fire and stood watch for a while, but the wolves did not return. Returning to their bedding, they slept, at least for a time, until once again the animals attacked again, forcing them up from their sleep only to be met with retreating wolves.This harrying continued the next night, and the next. As the group continued their journey, they were met night after night by wolves. Sometimes it looked to be the same ones, but as they traveled further, it looked like the fey wolf was finding local packs to make the night raids against them. Sometimes the wolves would fight fiercely for a time, forcing the adventurers to engaged in battle. Other times they would disappear immediately after the adventurers awoke.After many days of this, as they noticed the familiar land nearby Caelynnasidhe's tower, they were met by none other than Warder Gael, whom they had fought and captured when they first entered the forest. With him was the fey wolf with three of its companions, as well as a total of five eladrin, two bowmen in trees, two sword wielding guards at Gael's sides, and a halbard-wielding enforcer in chain armor.Gael himself had a smile on his face. The group of harried travelers was worse for wear. They had been fighting wolves for almost a week, and they had no chance to rest during that time, tired, and their stamina falling. Their goal was almost in sight, but Gael stood before them, blocking their way. If it was a fight he was after, they would give it to him, even in the shape they were in. Maybe they would fall, but they would take him with them."A deal!" He called out to them, to their surprise.Deals with fey can be tricky. The deal they had made with Caelynnasidhe was what had gotten them on Warder Gael's bad side in the first place. It had also almost gotten them killed. You never know what you're going to get into until you're neck deep. However, they were in a tough spot, and if there was another option available to them besides a fight, it was best to hear it out."What's your offer?" Korvun responded. The adventurers listened carefully."I will allow you entrance into the forest, under my own protection as a Warder, as far as the tower you seek. No fey will attack you, and if you are in danger within Kelbrook up to that point, I will be personally held responsible for your well being. In return you will owe me one favor of equal worth.""What is of equal worth? Is it to be decided by you?" Quinn quipped at the eladrin, a cold look on his face.Gael stared into the man's eyes, but Quinn did not look away. "You will decide when I ask it of you. If it is not acceptable, you are free to turn me down, and I will relent until I find something to your liking."Tordek grumbled, low so that only his companions could hear. "I don't believe him. The fey are not trustworthy. He'll trick us.""We can't take them on, though. If we fight, we'll lose." Alandra pointed out. "We're tired, and they have greater numbers against us.""Tordek is correct, though." Korvun pointed out. "And, deals with the fey are binding, magically. If we accept the deal, we must do this for him in the future. And, the longer we wait, the worse. We have to intend to do it. We can't turn down a reasonable offer - or one that sounds reasonable at the time. He knows this, and he's using it against us.""Won't matter if we die here." Alandra said. The others had to agree with this. Whatever deal they made in the future, at least they would have a chance. With the wolves hounding them all this time, they couldn't win this fight. Even fully rested, they weren't sure if they would all pull through. They didn't have any choice. The consensus was reached."We accept your offer." Quinn relayed to a smiling Gael."Then be off with you. And, remember not to go beyond the tower deeper into the forest. We shall meet again." With that, the Warder and his group departed, and the adventurers were free to move on to the tower.OOC:[sblock]Here's a great example of what not to do! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> The wolf thing - that didn't go over well. In fact, it sucked. Oh, it made logical sense, and it added tension and some interesting roleplaying to the meeting with Gael. But, the encounters with the wolves were simply not fun. They were frustrating for the players, and there was no satisfaction anywhere to be had.It's okay to frustrate players to a degree as long as there is a payoff down the line. It can work well when the BBEG proves to be one step ahead of them constantly, turning allies against them, doing things that are generally annoy the players (note: players here, not just the PCs), because in the end, it will make the PC's final encounter with him extremely satisfying if and when they actually take him down.In this case, there was no payoff, no big finish. They negotiated a deal with Gael. The wolves were two bit players who just sat around in the final encounter. Even if Gael had been the one harrying them (even though he was orchestrating it), he basically won. So, I had a frustrating series of encounters, where the PCs got up, engaged the wolves, who then left... over and over... and then nothing.Bad DM!! Bad Bad Bad DM!!Lesson learned.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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