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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kitsune9" data-source="post: 5450046" data-attributes="member: 18507">So here's my advice in two parts--distractions for the villain and twists for the party while sneaking about.Distractions1. The villain is devoutly religious and is a patron of [insert god] church. The PC's will know that the villain will be performing his nightly supplications and prayers at this time and his piety is measured by maintaining concentration and not allowing himself to be disturbed. The bodyguard sits outside the family chapel door.2. The villain is down in his basement torturing some poor soul / minion who has failed him. Maybe the PC's thwarted some other guy who was supposed to kill the PC's and now he's paying for his failure in the villain's dungeon. Or the guy could be someone who owes money and now he's getting a financial lesson on interest. The villain is a real sadist so is going to spend his time on the guy. 3. The villain is a known drug addict and around this time, he's zoned out.4. The villain is conducting a backroom deal with the local magistrate, guilds, high-level clerics, powerful figures, etc. down in his cellar which is warded against evesdropping. This discussion will be heated and take an hour or so to resolve.5. The villain summoned an oracle to divine certain events for him. They are in a study or his library where they are not to be disturbed.Twists for the PC's1. The cat's out of the bag--the PC's get followed around by a cat who likes to meow--loudly. They think the cat's meow will attract the attention of the servants so they will want to shoo it away or literally put it in a bag to shut it up. The cat is not stupid and will run away from cruel PC's who attempt to shoot it or draw their gleaming weapons. You can make this funny as the cat will dodge into areas where the PC's could knock over a vase, fine china, etc. 2. Loose mantle--a greedy PC' will notice a fine gold chalice and maybe help themselves to it. Of course, taking the chalice causes the mantle to become loose and suddenly the other trophies begin to fall and now the PC must make some quick reflexes to grab the stuff falling or else it will hit the floor with a big CRASH! This will draw the attention of a servant and the PC's will need to do a quick hide checks.3. The darn house is just falling apart--the PC's are walking across a rug, but there's a flagstone missing underneath, they got to make a reflex save or go crashing into a suit of armor. Then, they need to be somewhere else.4. Ummm? Chimney Inspection?--the PC's are searching a room and suddenly they hear voices coming down the hall. They need to hide and hide quickly. The obviously solution is up the chimney. Have them automatically scramble up the chimney, but then dust and soot gets in their eyes and they have to make saves to avoid sneezing/coughing while there is conversation in the room. Suddenly they see some logs being tossed into the chimney, but whoever is talking says that they need to go downstairs, etc. Now, if the PC's get caught, there was a chimney inspection due that day and they will be completely covered in soot so servants who catch them are a little dense and let them go about their business if the PC's pull off a good bluff check.5. Those annoying imps--at the time, the PC's are searching around, they will have to contend with an imp who will harrass the PC's all by himself. He will toss a glass jar at the PC's to see if they can catch it, throw grease, and so on to cause noise. If the PC's attack him, the imp will position himself where if they miss, the telling blow goes smashing into the fine china cabinet and so on.</blockquote>

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