Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ancalagon" data-source="post: 1613254" data-attributes="member: 23">Thank you all for the thought provoking questions!  I will try to answer some of them1: about the PCs.  They will be at 3rd level.  Some may have weak ties to the mage's guild (who won't be a factor in this adventure at all).  One of the PCs will be an employee of Jafar for some time (probably a rogue-ish fellow, or at the very least someone resourcefull) and Jafar feels that he could use more like him/her.2: about the authorities:  Jafar does NOT want this because he's worried that someone will find out about the pepper.  If it is found out he is smugling, he will be dealt a significant blow to both his finances and reputation, but he should be able to recover.   What happens to the PCs?  I'm not sure exactly, I will have to think on that.  If they are bright and get a lawyer, probably a few months of forced labor (ie, a "this sucks!" event, not a campain ending one).It's important to note that Jafar does not normaly smugle spice.  He is trying to do this on the quiet to "test the market" (as his colegue who will carry the spice to constantinople).  If it goes well, he will start openly trading spices in large volume, and apear both bold and successful to his peers (and beat them to the punch before they all start copying him).  If not, he doesn't loose face.  Currently, spice is carried to alexandria and shiped out by boat. If the PCs go to the authorities and manage to rouse their interest just enough, they will start posting more patrols in the general areas.  The thieves guild has ways around that, the renegates does not.As far as bodies go, if things aren't too crazy Jafar should be able to get the party out of trouble, although this would cost them their bonus.  Smugling them out of the city is also possible.3:  About failure.  Neither of the thieving group has the lifting capacity to steal Jafar's entire cargo, but it could take a significant dent in his profit.  The renegates are likely to take a few bolts (being opportunist), while the guild will probably take about a cartload (roughly 20% of the total amount).4:  Rewards:  As soon as Jaffar actualy uses the PCs (they are on "retainer" and normaly only have a modest salary) he triples their salary.  They are expected to use this money (payable in advance) to finance their operations.  The bonus at the end will be a small, one pound packet of pepper for each player <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=":)" />  (apparently, peppercorns were used as currency by some).  Jafar doesn't state what the bonus will be in advance.  The biggest reward though is their continued employement by Jaffar, who will have a much more lucrative job for them next time.5: hiring temp guards:   This is not a bad idea, and about half a dozen guards in good standing could be hired.  A dozen more of ... not so reputable guards could be had too.  However, more guards will act as a motivators to the guild-thieves (wow, it must be something really good in there!).  At the moment, they only want to rob the place to make a point (pay protection or else).  This move might also make the renegate thieves go out of near-panic mode, realise that they have NOT been found out by the guild, and shift their objectives.6:  Other merchants/other factions.  Only Jafar and the renegate thieves have goods in the wearhouse.  I think this is complicated enough without mixing more people in.7: rogue in the party:   A rogue, or someone well conected, may be able to find out by research that the warehouse owner owes protection money.  Capturing one of the thieves watching the warehouse and interogating him will also yield this information.  It is therefore possible to negociate with the thieves' guild and pay them off (at a stiff price).It is also possible to avoid conflict with the renegate thieves if their robery is interupted by some quick thinking and smooth talking.  If given the option to retrieve their loot and run, they will take it.I made this scenario with the thought that there would be several ways of "solving" it.  The pcs can do this without sheding one drop of blood... or they can lie in wait in the warehouse and ambush would be robbers.  Or other alternatives I may not have even though of <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=":)" />Ancalagon</blockquote>

Verification