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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kigmatzomat" data-source="post: 3851427" data-attributes="member: 9254">Who said "treat them like dirt?"  Re-read my example.  The players mortgage their property, probably to buy a new magic dingus or to resurrect Bob.  The payment they agreed to comes due.  The correct version of the scene given is:Steve, the money lender accompanied by a registered appraiser of the Royal Court and the town mayor as a witness.  Steve: I loaned you 1,000gp against your land.  You agreed to pay it back by dawn this morning.  It's noon.  PCs: Umm, we're broke.  Unbeknown to the PCs Steve cornered the grain market and devalued their harvest, ensuring they would be broke.  Steve: I'm sorry to hear that but I've got my own debts to pay.  I'll give you a few days to arrange for another place to stay.  You'll understand that my agent, an appraiser registered with the Royal Court, will be staying here as well to take inventory.  Normally that would be what we call life.  A Paladin would nod in understanding and go pack his things.  Heck, the appraiser might even BE a paladin, just to ensure both sides are treated fairly.  Now let's look at the hypothesized PC reaction:PC to Mayor: Deal with the problem or we pick up and leave, taking what we feel we are owed with us, leaving you at the mercies of enemies Y and Z that we have been protecting you from.Mayor: But it is a completely legal and binding contract.  It's my responsibility to enforce the terms of it.  PC: By demanding we pay up, you're showing your inadequacy to be Mayor. Run along now, and don't forget that there are *always* people willing to bid for the services of people of our power level. We are here because we feel like it, make the area inhospitable and we will leave.Mayor, Steve & Agent leavesSteve to others: I told you they were dangerous, power hungry individuals.  I warned Baron Bob, Count Carl and Duke Dan but they didn't take me seriously.  I will send letters to the nobles and the King, will you include your accounts of this day?  Mayor & Agent: This is unacceptable, of course we will.Steve: Agent, please stay at the inn on my account and record their actions.  Your words, as an outsider, will help ensure it isn't just a minor personal squabble making them say those atrocious things. Later:Steve to Gossiping Gerty: It's amazing that after I loaned them the funds to get Bob brought back from the dead that they would refuse to repay me.  I offered them time to find another place to stay, the Mayor said he could find something, and they refused!   Why, they said that anyone could pay them money to do what they do!  Now I wonder how it was that Bob died in the first place and what it is that they really do.  a bit later more:Steve to Minion Mage Mark: Go use Suggestion on the Tavernkeeper Ted and Shopkeep Sam that they should go ask the PCs to pay their tabs.  Do it now before Gerty tells the whole town that those accursed do-gooders have refused to pay for anything anymore and are willing to work for the Goblin King. just a couple minutes after that:Steve to self while writing letters to the king: this is working out perfectly!   If those idiot adventurers had just packed up and left I'd merely be richer by a small estate but now I can call down the King's wrath upon them and it's their own foolish doing!  I'll be lauded for standing up to them!  Serving my dark lord is working out well, and all because those idiots threw their weight around!</blockquote>

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