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Message: <blockquote data-quote="transcendation" data-source="post: 3584561" data-attributes="member: 52234">What other options do I have?They're bound to get even more powerful.And so far, custom encounters, and custom and customized adventures have worked well to keep them thinking on their toes.I haven't used the taxation-approach much, because the group has managed to move into the aristocracies of neighboring lands, and have diplomatic immunity of sorts.The PCs are elves and dwarves (half and half) - a strange adventuring group indeed.  Rivalries between them almost started a racial war.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />One of the dwarves is the prince of the neighboring Dwarven Lair - the son of the Laird.  (pun intended)  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />And one of the elves has declared himself Regent of the forest from which he came, for the previous ruler of the wood disappeared within his abode.  The PC isn't in a hurry to enter the place to find out what happened to his Lord (this really caught me off-guard - for this means I developed that dungeon for nothing!).  Besides, the forest has been getting along well without a Lord for decades (he disappeared decades ago, which to elves, seems like yesterday).The PCs then, are fairly reknowned.  So any unfair treatment of them could have widespread repurcusions.  And both factions of the party could raise an army without too much trouble.So taxing them really isn't an option for the King of Bissel.  Also, only recently have the PCs been without a dragon steed.  And they still have their giant spider steed.Who do you send to collect tax from monster riders?It was one of the same dragons the King previously paid in horses and virgin maidens for protection of his country (better to hold the Lottery twice a year than having dragons burn the crops and villages).  Paying, um, er, rewarding the PCs (and by extention their dragon) to carry the country's banner wasn't much different in his eyes.  So he sends them on missions, offering a gallon or two each of healing potions, honorable membership in the Royal Wizard's Guild, and lodgings in his castle, for example.  He's even knighted one of them.And he's not afraid that they'll attempt a coup.  None of them are actual subjects.  The people of the land are humans.  These elves and dwarves are definitely foreigners, and dignataries from the lands they come from.  If they made a grab for power, the people would probably resist, certainly the nobles would, and the Kingdom's other allies would probably intervene as well.  And the lands the PCs are from would probably object.  Besides, they haven't asked for anything, nor are they causing waves with the Kingdom's knights.  They simply hang around whenever they aren't attacking whoever is attacking the country.Due to the PCs efforts, trade with the dwarven and elven lands has resumed, and is booming.Well, there are a few more half-elven children running around town than usual, but so what...Meanwhile, even though the PCs can't stand the sniveling King or his Captain, and even though some of them have landed in the King's dungeons on more than one occasion, the PCs love that they have carved out a place for themselves in this aristocracy.  With their help, the land has elevated from a March to a Kingdom.It's a strange symbiosis.  But I like it this way - there are plenty of opportunities for intrigue.So far, I've been able to sustain the illusion that the PCs are moving up through the levels of the campaign, rather than the campaign increasing in levels with the players.  This requires exposing them to background via rumors and news reports (storytelling at the local pubs, and overheard arguments coming from the throne room or various ministry offices) and this is more work, but it keeps things rich (complex), providing the players with many directions to choose from. Fortunately, they've opted to stay close to home most of the time, for fear that it can't survive without them.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><a href="mailto:transcendation@yahoo.com">transcendation@yahoo.com</a>P.S.:  I'm selling my RPG collection of 3000+ items.  Contact me for details.</blockquote>

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