Help for Wednesday - PLEASE!!!!!!

[Angelsboi]

unfortunately, i posted what the rooks Are. No fighting can happen there. I dont want the PCs knowing they are in a game just yet and the tattoos are still mysterious. So if i were to dangle other peices, they will know immediatly. besides, its a human chess game.

but i do like your ideas, so please keep them coming

 

[Shadowdancer]

angelsboi: I answered your e-mail with some ideas, but I may have missed your point since my ideas were for the larger picture, and you were looking for something more specific. If you like the ideas I sent you, you might find a way to incorporate them.

Now, as to furthering your story from the point of the newly tattooed druid. Drop a clue that will lead from them from the healer's shop to the Cat's Web apothecary. I'd use something from the tattoo itself, maybe a poweder that was used for the ink that was dropped on the floor of the healer's shop as the tattoo artist fled in a hurry. Drop a hint (via an NPC -- the healer?) that the aopthecary shop might carry something like that powder.

Then have the apothecary (who is supposed to be supporting the players' side -- is that right?) steer them toward the weapon's shop. Maybe that weapon maker is known to also make and sell the types of tattoo needles that were used to give the druid his tattoo.

I also like the idea of incorporating subtle chess-related clues into the storyline. Since you don't want to give away yet that it is a chess game, be real subtle at first. The chess piece in the window might be too obvious right now, but a couple of old men playing chess outside the shop, or in the alley next to the shop, or at a table in front of a tavern next to the shop, might not be.

 

[Angelsboi]

ok this is what i now have. Can anyone add anything?

So what i have is this:

1. Druid on way home.
2. Druid spots a certain cat he hates (it attacked him with Spirit Worm hehehe)
3. Druid gets knocked out.
4. PCs go to local healers and find him there but no healer.
5. PCs attacked by undead.
6. Healer comes in as Druid wakes up.
7. Tattoo is spotted on Druid
8. Odd powder is spotted on the floor or maybe the healer can suggest the apothacary would know more about tattoos.
9. Notice the black rook symbol (where??)
10. Told that the weaponsmith might know who made the tattooing needles.
11. Discover the tattoo on the weaponshop owner. Fight ensues
12. Later that day, a mysterious messenger arrives with some gold (anything else??) for the druid.

Anything else that needs to happen?

 

[Stormprince]

Well... from what I've seen thus far, it all looks very good. My only real suggestion at this point depends on the answer to my following question:

Are the PCs the only ones who are finding out these clues?

If not, then you can throw them for a loop by having a 'copycat' mucking things up. Suddenly, there is a string of murders across town with Pawn Symbols showing up everywhere - making the PCs possibly believe that there is an assassin's guild involved.

Another possibility, if you really want to make things a bit more complicated, is to introduce a 'third' king - a Red King, who is peripherally knowledgeable about what is going on, but has something against both the White and Black sides, so is working against both of them.

*grins crookedly* Okay, so my suggestions are basically ways to make things more complicated - one of the reasons my PCs both love and fear when I get behind the DM Screen

- Christopher

 

[Angelsboi]

Well thing is ... its a political game. No one knows whats going on. I mean the Mortician (Black) is a necromancer. The Deputy Mayor (White) is a demonologist (As per the Mongoose book).

They are playing this game to see who will get control. Since Queens are the most powerful peices, their familiars have the respective Queen tattoos.

 

[LufiaLillystorm]

4th time? okies dokies

Hehe hun so you want to know a way to keep the people moving but not really understand that it is a chess game yet? Well then figure out what the next piece they will be attacked with and include in the package that is sent to them a riddle. That way the Political aspect is still maintained and the PC's are still confused but seem to have some idea of what is going on, but the riddle is as revealing as it is confusing. So then you can introduce other chess pieces but when the PC's go into the confruntation they don't know it is a confruntation till they see that mark on the other persons hand.

So lets say that Donna Berret is next. Black wants to get rid of the others clerical power so that later in the game it wont be usefull.
so the riddle may sound something like this?

Thank you for your cooperation,
Consider this your compensation.
Haste be made to checkered fame,
Board remains for you too tame.
Keep your stead in holy light,
Ready now, prepare to fight.


Or something like that :/ sorry it isn't very good, but I tried.

I hope I helped at all

 

[Darklone]

Hmm

Confused. Wait a moment.

All the guys have no clue about the game but still go on killing each other? WHY?

 

[Angelsboi]

Darklone ....

They dont know b/c the affects of the tattoo cause such. They just know they have to 'protect' themselves against this attacker and they usually forget about it afterwards.

Lily ...

YAY!!!!!! I LOVED the riddle part so consider it YOINKED!!