ExploderWizard
Hero
You must spread some experience around before giving it to Philotomy Jurament again. 
What Would You Do?
- Thread starter pjrake
- Start date
jbear
First Post
Maybe the wizard unaware that the PCs are pottering aroun his ex-lair sends some nasty henchmen to pick up some of the gear he didn't have time to take with him.
He continues his plans with the king, that line of the plot advances.
Meanwhile, they PC's have a chance to explore, find clues, and perhaps the missing something that the wizard left in his rush, something quite important to his plans.
The henchmen arrive at some inopportune time, maybe during a skirmish with some minor creatures of the castle, complicating the encounter nastily. Have the hench leader communicate who they are, his surprise to find them back there, and his intentions to finish his master's work for him because he has many more important things to worry about. That should give them enough clues to maybe attempt to keep one or more of them alive and interrogate them to get the information. This would lead into a skill challenge. Success confirms that the wizards lacks something there at the castle and his whereabouts. Failure, they get knowledge of his whereabouts, but no mention of the object (you could leave other clues elsewhere for them to figure this out if you wanted). maybe they give them some misinformation that will make their future encounters more risky.
Meanwhile, as the wizard unravels his plans unhindered, when the PC's head back in the right direction, the once peaceful world they had explored has radically changed for the worse. Perhaps the kings head dangles from the city gates, and even entering the city full of the Princes spies is now a dangerous decision indeed, especially if they attract attention towards themselves.
He continues his plans with the king, that line of the plot advances.
Meanwhile, they PC's have a chance to explore, find clues, and perhaps the missing something that the wizard left in his rush, something quite important to his plans.
The henchmen arrive at some inopportune time, maybe during a skirmish with some minor creatures of the castle, complicating the encounter nastily. Have the hench leader communicate who they are, his surprise to find them back there, and his intentions to finish his master's work for him because he has many more important things to worry about. That should give them enough clues to maybe attempt to keep one or more of them alive and interrogate them to get the information. This would lead into a skill challenge. Success confirms that the wizards lacks something there at the castle and his whereabouts. Failure, they get knowledge of his whereabouts, but no mention of the object (you could leave other clues elsewhere for them to figure this out if you wanted). maybe they give them some misinformation that will make their future encounters more risky.
Meanwhile, as the wizard unravels his plans unhindered, when the PC's head back in the right direction, the once peaceful world they had explored has radically changed for the worse. Perhaps the kings head dangles from the city gates, and even entering the city full of the Princes spies is now a dangerous decision indeed, especially if they attract attention towards themselves.
pjrake
Explorer
Great suggestions, and from what was mentioned above, I think I will flesh out the castle more, drop a couple of more hints, but the wizard and prince will have a head start on their plans (raise army and overtake the kingdom w/ the magic item they stole from PC's).
How 'bout using a cutscene as a clue? Maybe this way the players will not spend alot of time in the castle. Something like this:
A desolate, lit candle pierces the darkness. It stands atop a rustic table and reveals a hooded figure; the rest of the room is pitch black. The flame suddenly begins to flicker violently as the door opens and someone enters.
"Sir, the plan is in motion, " says the human guard, dressed in expensive chain mail. "The wizard has the mithrall, and will be here by sundown."
"Excellent," replies the hooded man, and stands up instinctively.
"Assemble your men, for the time is near. When the wizard arrives, inform him that we are ready for the next stage."
The guard, afraid to ask the next question, musters enough courage to say, "And your wife, sir?"
The hooded man turns to face the guard. "She is not a threat," he utters. "By sundown... she will be dead."
He exits the dark room to find his army lined down the hallway. In a thunderous chorus, they proclaim, "All hail Prince Andar, future fuler of Zoa!"
Maybe I can have the cutscene after they explore the castle a little bit more.
Thoughts?
-PJ
How 'bout using a cutscene as a clue? Maybe this way the players will not spend alot of time in the castle. Something like this:
A desolate, lit candle pierces the darkness. It stands atop a rustic table and reveals a hooded figure; the rest of the room is pitch black. The flame suddenly begins to flicker violently as the door opens and someone enters.
"Sir, the plan is in motion, " says the human guard, dressed in expensive chain mail. "The wizard has the mithrall, and will be here by sundown."
"Excellent," replies the hooded man, and stands up instinctively.
"Assemble your men, for the time is near. When the wizard arrives, inform him that we are ready for the next stage."
The guard, afraid to ask the next question, musters enough courage to say, "And your wife, sir?"
The hooded man turns to face the guard. "She is not a threat," he utters. "By sundown... she will be dead."
He exits the dark room to find his army lined down the hallway. In a thunderous chorus, they proclaim, "All hail Prince Andar, future fuler of Zoa!"
Maybe I can have the cutscene after they explore the castle a little bit more.
Thoughts?
-PJ
I've never tried a cut scene. It seems like cheating to me -- giving the players knowledge the characters don't have. But I might have someone TELL them what's going on, or some kind of clue.
Similar Threads
