Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quasqueton" data-source="post: 1954930" data-attributes="member: 3854">Eulogy for an NPC.On the first couple game sessions of our current campaign, the PCs (2nd level) were on a ship sailing to the New World. Among many people and things on the ship, there was a "swashbuckler" woman with serious attitude.At one point, this woman, named Lewellyn, got into a confrontation with the PC dwarf monk. She was antagonistic and intimidating (using the skill), and then she quickdrew her rapier and skewered the monk with a sneak attack. He responded with a stunning fist. He retreated from the fight while she was stunned. The fight was over.Later, it was learned that the sailors of the ship they were on were actually pirates and slavers intent on capturing, enslaving, and selling all the passengers. The PCs worked together with some adventurer NPCs, including Lewellyn, and took over the ship. She was instrumental in the victory, (at least so she said).Lewellyn went her own way once the ship made it to port.Several weeks later an employer called together all the adventurers who had helped defeat the pirates. He had a job for them all. Of the 3 NPCs who helped on the ship, only Lewellyn "rejoined" the PCs (now almost 5th level). But it was pretty obvious from the beginning that she didn't think very highly of the PCs, and she was on this mission with them just for strength in numbers. I bought a special mini for Lewellyn. Although she was a loner with too much attitude, I really liked her. I liked playing her. She was a total b----, and she didn't like following the group's plans, but she was *such* a "character". She liked using her Intimidate skill on any and everyone around her. She was quick to fight at the slightest provocation. She was just such a huggable NPC for a DM to play among the PCs ;-)Then one night she was leaving the inn where the PCs were staying, and instead of stepping around the halfling wizard to walk out the door, she made a point of expecting him to move out of her way. She tried intimidating him, but he stood firm (but cautious). She gave him a dark look as she walked around him.Then later, right after a fight with the bad guys of their current mission, she got into a little attitude contest with the PC sorceress. She tried Intimidate to get the mage to back down to her "superior skills", but the sorceress wasn't moved. In fact, the sorceress insulted Lewellyn. And oh my, that set her off.With the monk, cleric, and fighter a good 60' away down the city street (carrying a captive from the fight), Lewellyn quickdrew her rapier and stabbed the sorceress good with sneak attack. The sorceress was critically wounded, but it was *on* now.The halfling wizard, the only other PC with the two women, tried to cast shocking grasp, but got a serious rapier stab for the AoO. The sorceress stepped back and fired off a scorching ray but missed. Lewellyn, now fighting with two weapons, caught the halfling with a weak stilleto thrust. The wizard stepped back and slicked the ground under her with a grease spell.Then the melee combatants entered the brawl. Lewellyn managed to get out of the grease slick, but it had cost her a round of action. She couldn't get away from the pissed off PCs. Pressed by the meleers, and zapped by magic missles and chill touch, she was dropped in her attempt to escape down a dark, dirty ally. The PCs made a half-hearted attempt to stabalize her, but then ended up letting her die later anyway. Understandably.* * *I figured there would eventually be a confrontation of some sort between Lewellyn and one (or all) of the PCs; her aggressive personality almost guaranteed it. But it happened sooner than I expected. And I didn't think they'd actually kill her. But she almost killed both PC mages in the first couple rounds, so their reaction was not unjustifiable. Now my precious, interesting, and fun NPC is dead. I'm mourning (a little). This NPC was in 4 of the 9 game sessions (first two and most recent two) of this campaign, and she was an active party member for only 2 of those. ["Active party member" is perhaps overstating her standing with the PCs, though. ;-) ]Ah well, pissing off a party of adventurers is a very dangerous game. I was quite entertained by the whole affair. Salute to my Players. But I'll miss Lewellyn.Quasqueton</blockquote>

Verification