rycanada said:
Problem: Javeed is a young aristocrat who was just humiliated by the girl he desires. Now in a rage, he is deadset on challenging the Master to a duel to the death. An NPC friend of the PCs (a mutual acquaintance) runs up to them, and pleads with them to help before Javeed gets himself killed. If the PCs intervene by knocking Javeed out, this may set up Javeed as a recurring antagonist to the PCs' plans. Javeed can use his family's resources to obstruct and annoy the PCs without being evil.
Problem: The PCs notice a smartly dressed man with a blank expression. He approaches the PCs when they are in town at a later date, asking if they know where he can find a young man named Javeed. A sense motive check reveals this tightly-controlled man is not all that he seems. Various clues (a small V mark on the back of his left hand, a vaguely antiseptic smell) point to the truth: he is an assassin. A helpful gnome, Iupher Standinac, hearing the conversation, mentions that if he's not home now, he's probably with his new girl in the upscale area of the town known as Bidmarket. The man heads off right away as Iupher says "you could at least say thank you, friend." If the PCs foil an assassination attempt against Javeed, he is even more resentful of him. If the PCs fail to foil the assassin, authorities suspect them of involvement.
Threat: Javeed travels with a bodyguard (Warrior 4), who (while indifferent to the challenges Javeed gets himself into) will try to defend him from being jumped by street thugs, which is what the PCs are if they immediately try to subdue Javeed.
Resource: If the PCs have a chance, the Master can be convinced to using nonlethal force in the duel. As Javeed is a 3rd level Aristocrat, the Master should defeat him handily. Still, using nonlethal force in a lethal fight is a significant risk for the Master, and says that if the man who shows up at the duel is not a fool, he will not hold back. As Javeed arrives he is quiet and does not act foolish; the PCs can goad him into hot-headed insults, after which the Master will resort to nonlethal force.
Reward: If the PCs intervene and subdue Javeed, his father, Sir Othen, cordially invites them to dinner to show there are no hard feelings. This offer is legitimate, but if the PCs refuse they will be seen by the aristocracy as very rude. If the PCs attend this dinner, they are "treated" to a long speech by Othen about the rashness of youth, as Javeed turns purple with shame and anger, seated across from the PC who beat him.