D&D General Rewarding player empathy: restoring an NPC’s wings in a starter adventure (Stormwreck Isle)

[SableWyvern]

I absolutely love the roleplay and want to lean into it, even though this is not part of the starter adventure.

At the same time, I want to avoid the group later attacking all the kobolds at the Observatory out of pure revenge. One possible condition I’m considering is: Myla’s wings can only be healed if Mek and Minn are not killed.

Do you want the players to avoid killing all the kobolds because you simply don't want to participate in a game where the PCs engage in bloodthirsty revenge?

If this is the case, instead of looking for an in-game way to manipulate the players, I would advise that you just state this up front, so that everyone is on the same page about what they enjoy about the game and what people's limits are. If you want to also provide an in-game rationalistion, feel free, but setting and maintaining shared expectations is critical to ensure this type of thing doesn't just keep appearing. It also gets around potential problems if your players decided to ignore the in-game rationalisation, which could just make things worse if the PCs are angry about having their revenge thwarted and start to focus on other ways to mete out justice.

If the reason you want to avoid it is because it will derail the adventure in some way, I'd recommend that instead of trying to thwart it, identify what the consequences will be and be ready for them. This is actually important even if you do decide to give them in-game reasons not to go on a killing spree, because you'll be prepared if they ignore your efforts and things are derailed anyway.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

As for the party killing the brothers, it seems like the players misunderstand the situation. Can’t you have Myla beg them to let her brothers know she’s alive, emphasizing how devastating her supposed death must have been to them?

This is the easiest solution. It still leaves the choice in their hands. Players are sometimes mean and bloodthirsty and I wouldn’t try to railroad it in a way that the PCs can’t seek revenge if they want to.

As for regenerating the wings, the simplest and most fun answer I can think of is a quest to find a powerful potion or sacred pool or creature (like a unicorn or other benevolent creature) that will restore her. It should be a mid to long term goal, IMO. Maybe they find a rumour or an ancient book or runes inscribed somewhere during their adventure. Plant a seed.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Double post:

Re: fixing the wings. Maybe some entity can do it but they have a mission. But it’s a mission of redemption and it’s the brothers that have to fulfill the quest so the PCs have to go back to find the brothers (assuming they didn’t already kill them), convince them to do the adventure and then accompany them to do the quest, protecting them they don’t die and so they succeed.

 

[Audiomancer]

As noted above, the regenerate spell could do it, but it's pretty high level. While there is no official potion of regeneration in the game, you could easily add one, which just does the same thing as the spell. Then it's a one-off item, so no issues with everyone constructing mechanical wings, or needing a powerful NPC to suddenly exist.

You could seed rumours to this potion's existence and place it somewhere as a side quest (or in the possession of one of the bad guys, depending on what works best for you).

I was going to suggest a spell scroll with the Regenerate spell on it. Fudge the rules so that the Bard or Paladin can cast it (maybe the other can assist to provide Advantage).

But I think the potion idea is better.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

It seems like the module just says that Myla's wings are "badly injured", not that they're completely decapitated or anything. So I don't see why they couldn't just heal normally over a long period of time, or quickly with magic available to the party like Cure Wounds. Personally I'd say the wings will heal normally but only after the PCs make some number of successful Medicine checks to set the wings to heal properly.

As for the brothers, I wouldn't try TOO hard to keep the party from killing them. I'd definitely make sure the players understand that the brothers didn't abandon Myla, they just mistakenly thought she was dead (plenty of good ideas above for that). But I'd also recommend not railroading the party into being forced to keep them alive either. The most fun aspect of DnD is players get to make choices other than just what the module (or the DM) predicts that they'll do. And even in the module they're described as "cruel and haughty" and that they're unwaveringly loyal to the evil dragon the party came to stop; to me it reads 50/50 on whether players would side with or against the kobold brothers.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

I'd suggest finding a good spot to introduce a high level caster NPC (cleric, driud, or bard) that will do it for a small side quest.

The quest giver is an Adult Bronze Dragon in disguise, whose "capabilities go beyond what is presented here" (quote from the module). High level caster NPC already introduced

 

[Zardnaar]

The quest giver is an Adult Bronze Dragon in disguise, whose "capabilities go beyond what is presented here" (quote from the module). High level caster NPC already introduced

Yeah give the PCs a fetch quest for items to duplicate regeneration spell via ritual.

My Runara ability was a boon to call upon her breath weapon at lvl 13. She died but was resurrected via Selunes grace.

 

[Aenwyn]

Side question: are the kobolds in this adventure special in that they have wings, or did you add that aspect? It isn't really relevant, I am just curious.

Anyway -- one thing that might be interesting is to have the characters learn of a Potion of Regeneration that will allow them to restore Myla's wings. But also give them another more selfish use for it, and see what they do.
Potion of True Vitality: When consumed by a creature that has suffered the loss of a limb or similar mutilation, they are restored to their previous state. If consumed by a creature that has not been so wounded, their Constitution score is permanently increased by 1.
Or something like that.

There are kobolds with and without wings written in this adventure. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

 

[Aenwyn]

Because of the way damage works in 5e I don’t know that there are any spells that officially regenerate body parts, though I would rule that greater restoration, heal, and divine intervention are options. Plant a cleric NPC who can assist if the party proves their sincerity, etc.

As for the party killing the brothers, it seems like the players misunderstand the situation. Can’t you have Myla beg them to let her brothers know she’s alive, emphasizing how devastating her supposed death must have been to them?

Thank you, that’s a very good point. I do think my players may be missing some of the emotional context, and having Myla explicitly express her feelings toward her brothers is something I will definitely do. I like the idea of her emphasizing that they believed she was dead and how devastating that must have been for them. That could help reframe the situation from revenge to reconciliation.

At the same time, I also understand why the party feels anger and a desire for retribution, and I don’t want to completely shut that down as an emotional response. I’m not opposed to consequences or confrontation, but from a narrative and pacing perspective it feels much easier and richer if the brothers remain alive, especially for the later encounters at the observatory.

I’m hoping to guide the story toward a moral choice rather than a forced outcome, where mercy, understanding, or restraint leads to greater rewards than simple revenge.

Thanks again for the suggestions – they’re very helpful!

 

[Aenwyn]

I don't quite understand why the players are so mad at the brothers - did her brothers cause her injuries?

Because "leaving her for dead" isn't a crime - it's a tragic mistake.

That surprised me as well, to be honest. I think the strong reaction mostly comes from the fact that the players have grown very attached to Myla as a character. They empathize with her situation and instinctively want to protect her, which then turns into anger toward the brothers.
From a story perspective, I absolutely agree with you: the brothers didn’t cause her injuries, and leaving her behind was a tragic mistake made under extreme circumstances, not malice.
I plan to lean into that by having Myla clearly state that she is not angry with Mek and Minn, and that she understands why they believed she was dead. My hope is that this reframes the situation.