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Message: <blockquote data-quote="knasser" data-source="post: 6944048" data-attributes="member: 65151"> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At least one of the judges must be a dragon in disguise. Whether this judge is determined to find them guilty or determined to find them innocent, either way adds interesting plot. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One of the judges (the one with the deciding vote, possibly) should approach the PCs with a deal. This should be something they don't want to do. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">An NPC who was saved by their fighting the dragon should come forward or otherwise try to help the PCs. Bonus points if they are a child of the strictest judge trying to not let him find out about his / her involvement. (Don't explain to the PCs why the NPC is being so furtive and reluctant to be public. Save it for a "Um... hello daddy" moment). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have the judges believe - rightly or wrongly - that the dragon would not have been revealed if the PCs didn't start the fight. This is why the PCs can be on trial even for defending the city, if they are blamed for the battle in the first place. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have a crazy person who witnessed the fight hanging around streetcorners telling people that "there are dragons amongst us! I have seen them! They were there! (points at PCs) They know the truth!" Bonus points if you can use this to make the PCs think disguised dragons really are a silly conspiracy theory and tie it into the disguised dragon judge above. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Provide some actual stakes. Have an election for the new alderman or mayor or whatever, with the incumbant insisting "There are no dragons loose in the city" so that the PCs understand why there is a trial and why it matters. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Call the adventure "Scales of Justice". Ensure at some point you contrive to have a judge in response to the inevitable player that tries to ridicule her say: "Do you want to spend your life in a dungeon? You think this is a game? That matters of dungeons and dragons are to be treated lightly?" </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have a thief on trial just before them. Have her sentenced to death. Have her sister in the court cry out "Black Leaf! Noooooooo!" </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Drop hints that if the PCs do get taken away, something dreadful that only they can prevent is going to happen. Maybe another dragon will strike / get away / steal an artifact. Have only the PCs believe this so that they know they must convince the judges to let them go or something terrible will occur. This adds impetus and helps stop players thinking that being convicted will just mean you starting the next adventure with "So you're in a dungeon..." and the obligatory bust out and retrieve your equipment cliché. Add some stakes. </li> </ul></blockquote>

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