Power Centers and a Brothel

[Angelsboi]

Ok the PCs are going to a city callend Anthelion (its another name for Venus/Love).

The city (so far) is a state of debauchery (think Mardi Gras time in New Orleans). One of the power centers is a very exotic brothel.

The PCs are 3rd to 4th level. We have:

A elven barbarian/bard (CG) who is gay and obsessed with haflings and slaves

A human cleric (N) who worships the goddess of justice, law and vengence

A hafling fighter (CN) who is a bounty hunter

A human wizard (LN) who is a 'buffing' wizard

A human barbarian/rogue (C?) hasnt been introduced yet.

The wizard wont be at our next gaming session so hes going to go off in search of a wizards guild or just spend time researching in his room.

What id like to know is ...

1. What alignment should the brothel be?

2. Would kind of power centers would oppose it?

3. What should be in there to challenge the party?

4. What should be in this city?

 

[Greybar]

With the understanding that really what you're looking for is plot ideas...

1. What alignment should the brothel be?

NG, with the person in charge (archtypically a madam) as CG.

2. Would kind of power centers would oppose it?

The LN city guard, who find this to be the most stressful time of the year as they try to keep the city from flying apart at the seams.

3. What should be in there to challenge the party?

There is a murder of a brothel patron (a prominent politician) at the same time that they are in the area. If one of the players goes to the brothel, they they are rounded up by the guard after the murder as a witness/suspect.

The cleric of justice may get pulled in as an auxillary to the guard (through his church) to help sort out the mess.

Once the suspect is determined, the bountry hunter can be offered the job of finding the suspect.

Consider the possibility that the lead suspect (with the bounty) is a red-herring that will merely get the players in more political trouble. For instance, a person opposed to the guard (perhaps the madam) that ends up in an incriminating position.

4. What should be in this city?

Lots of trade in potentially illegal things (varies by your world - drugs, slaves, etc.) under the cover of the celebration. Perhaps this ties into the murder. The slaves is a potential tie to your elf.

 

[Angelsboi]

no, not really plot ideas, just an idea for a brothel. Im trying to stay away from politics b/c i suck at politics and cant run political games very well

 

[arwink]

Have you checked out the issue of Dungeon that coincides with the Vile Darkness release? There's an entire adventure in there that centres around the conflict between a demon-run brothel and a drug baron.

 

[smetzger]

The roman city of Corinth was a city that followed Venus. It was also a major crossroads for both land and sea. It became known throughout the world as a city of pleasure and excess, so much so that when a person had loose moral standards (especially of the sexual nature) they were said to be corinthian (even if they weren't from Corinth).

The temple to Venus is said to have had 1000 temple preistess/prostitutes.

I suggest changing your brothel to a temple.

 

[herald]

1. What alignment should the brothel be?

Answer: Neutral. If you are going to walk on the wild side, you have to be willing to mix with somebody your not sure about.

2. Would kind of power centers would oppose it?

Answer: A Church. But instead of the usual, lets go with something unexpected. Go with a church that is open about sex, but against the way the brothel conducts itself. They feel that it sets a bad example about "free love."

3. What should be in there to challenge the party?

Answer: Love struck country boy and his brothers want to "rescue" the girl he loves, only she doesn't want to go.

Or perhaps one of the customers is to drunk to understand that one of the prostitutes is a transvestite and he and his bullyboys are going to burn the place down. (This is a little bit Hollywood, a little to predictable in my opinion, but it popped it my head)

or a little BVOD. Someone is trying to infect the town with a disease. He thought this would be a great ground zero. The prostitutes have no idea.

Rival Bordello, only they use slaves instead of prostitutes, (More BOVD) wants to start a streetwar.

Thieves Guild wants a cut of the action.

An organization like the Hellfire club runs roughshod over the Brothel, and they members can't be touched since the are so importaint. The arive weqaring masks and expect that every dark whim be allowed. The only pleasure is thiers however. They take out thier fantasys on prostitute and hapless patron alike.

4. What should be in this city?

Make it a a mediteranian city. Fountains, open air malls (not shopping malls) and perhaps many powerful families not a centrilzed government.

 

[herald]

The roman city of Corinth was a city that followed Venus. It was also a major crossroads for both land and sea. It became known throughout the world as a city of pleasure and excess, so much so that when a person had loose moral standards (especially of the sexual nature) they were said to be corinthian (even if they weren't from Corinth).

ROTFOL!!!!!!!!!

I will never be able to hear Ricardo Montoban say "Rich Corinthian Leather" with a straight face again!!!!!

 

[Xarlen]

Some ideas:

The Brothel has quite a few Exotic girls (And boys?). Different species: A drow, or orc/halforc/gnoll female (For those guys who like 'em rough and tumble), perhaps on the roof a Tree that a Dryad is linked to (Hedonistic Nookie, anyone?). The Madam could be a relatively Neutral Succubi, or a Tiefling. Or heck, some celestial-touched woman whom believes she is doing what she is doing by offering the House's services to those who may not be able to find it themselves, and thus pleasing them (For A Price).

I personally liked the idea of introducing a disease into the city and using the Brothel as a starting point.

There's a girl working there who is the daugher of a Baron. She's ran away to work there or hide, and he wants her back. The PCs have to talk the Madam out of letting her go.

OR

One of the House's most skilled (or pretty, requested, Exotic, whatever) girl goes missing. The Madam believes that, when she was out with a much more upstanding member of the city (for an extreme amount for good Customers, the Brothel can do an escort service for the Girls to go out), she didn't return. She wants the PCs to find out. The Upstanding Citizen is actually associated with an underground slave-trade, and sold the girl to some slavers (while he appeared to have been mobbed and she taken hostage). The PCs are hired to go get her (Especially good for the Bounty Hunter and the Cleric fo Justice).

 

[herald]

How about borrowing something from Imagica by Clive Barker.

Doppleganger as the ultimate lover. (Male/Female/both/whatever.)

Think what kind of problems a doppleganger could do as a prostitute or cortisan.

(Slap to the forhead)

Man, I gotta start writing this stuff down for the Elizabethan game I want to run.

 

[Angelsboi]

Wow!! Thanks guys. Yes, i have the Dungeon issue but its too high for these guys.

I have ideas rolling in my head now ...