I currently DM a home brew campaign, and one mission they are currently in the middle of is retrieving a staff of an old wizard which was stolen from him by a mafia/thieves-like guild that has control over the town. The mafia/thieves stole his staff knowing he could use his magic to help overthrow the guild and return the city to it's normal glory. The group has the location of the staff, as well as a detailed map on how to get there due to an old guild member wanting to help them return the city back to normal.
So, my players decided they wanted to make a fake staff to replace with the original so they wouldn't know it was missing. Good idea in theory right? So I describe the staff to the players, and explained that there was a blue glass orb on the top of the staff which they would have to replicate to make a decent looking replica. So now this is where my improvising kicked in, because I did not expect them to be smart enough to make a fake staff (they're usually the type of people to Leroy Jenkins right into action).
The group then asks around town to the people where they could find some sort of blue orb. One townsfolk mentioned that there was nearby lake which held treasures such as gold, and various emeralds and gems. The name of the lake is called Scale Lake, due to the rumored monster in the lake, which defends the emeralds, gold and gems (much like a dragon would protect it's gold hoard). So the group decides still, to go to the lake to try to find a blue orb like item in the lake they could use.
A day or two passes as the group then travels to scale lake. On the way, they then encounter some villains (goblins/drow) who had been in mid-ambush of one of the lake settlements. These enemies had been from the main quest line, so it was not completely irrelevant. They then spent the remainder of the night fighting off the main story enemies. The night passes, and they are thanked by the settlement people and are given a reward and free stay at the inn. At the inn, they decide to sit and drink for the night, and figure out how to get these valuables from the lake the next day.
An old, black, male human overhears them discussing this, and then walks over to them and discusses with them that the lake monster would more than likely stop them from retrieving anything from the lake, but he could possibly help them the next morning if they helped him. The man explained that this monster had taken valuables from him and added it to his hoard, and that he has been longing to get it back. To do this, he plans on capturing the lake monster. The group agrees and sleeps until the next day.
The next day begins, and the group meets the old man at the lake. He had a giant net, grappling hooks, and bodies of some of the dead goblins from the previous night's attack. The group then takes goblin bodies, and begins to craft makeshift monster hunting fishing line and gear. The group attempts to catch the monster for some time, and after about 4 hours, the beast grabs on to the grappling hook. All the players work together and begin to pull it in, but eventually the monster lets go.
The group then thinks that the monster is a lost cause, when all of a sudden a huge wave and splash comes out of nowhere, and the monster is revealed. But rather than attacking, the monster was able to telepathically communicate with the group and ask them why they had been disturbing him. The group members quickly explain their situation and that they wish no harm. Only to retrieve some sort of blue glass orb, and the reasoning behind it. The monster feeling sympathetic for the people of the city, agrees to retrieve something from his hoard for them that they could use. But for a price.
He explains that if he is taking something from his hoard for the players, then he must have it replaced with gold. The group agrees, and then further asks the monster what they payment shall be...
And it was about that time, that the black old man realized that this monster was about eight stories tall and was a crustacean from the protozoic era. And the scale lake monster lowered it's head to the players and said... "I'm gonna need about tree fiddy".
Nice way to juggle everything without losing the story! Those crafty player characters can come up with some ingenious solutions. And nice touch on the crustacean. It must have been a hoot to see their reactions at the pronunciation of "tree fiddy"
They did actually leave the cave last night with some magic items. They then retrieved the "fake" staff, and were able put it in the place of the real one. The wizard now has his staff, and the group is ready for their final assault on the guild to take back the town. In the midst of the final assault, the group is ambushed at night by the same group of Drow (some of which are actually vampires), and they have come for revenge on the group, and to take prisoners. The night ended with one of the vampire leaders be-heading the guild leader to set an example to the group, to show them his power. He then told the group they had two choices. Come with him and become one with their army, in which case the civilians would get to live. Or refuse, in which case they will slaughter everyone in the town, including the players themselves.
And that's how last night concluded. Until next week.
I currently DM a home brew campaign, and one mission they are currently in the middle of is retrieving a staff of an old wizard which was stolen from him by a mafia/thieves-like guild that has control over the town. The mafia/thieves stole his staff knowing he could use his magic to help overthrow the guild and return the city to it's normal glory. The group has the location of the staff, as well as a detailed map on how to get there due to an old guild member wanting to help them return the city back to normal.
So, my players decided they wanted to make a fake staff to replace with the original so they wouldn't know it was missing. Good idea in theory right? So I describe the staff to the players, and explained that there was a blue glass orb on the top of the staff which they would have to replicate to make a decent looking replica. So now this is where my improvising kicked in, because I did not expect them to be smart enough to make a fake staff (they're usually the type of people to Leroy Jenkins right into action).
The group then asks around town to the people where they could find some sort of blue orb. One townsfolk mentioned that there was nearby lake which held treasures such as gold, and various emeralds and gems. The name of the lake is called Scale Lake, due to the rumored monster in the lake, which defends the emeralds, gold and gems (much like a dragon would protect it's gold hoard). So the group decides still, to go to the lake to try to find a blue orb like item in the lake they could use.
A day or two passes as the group then travels to scale lake. On the way, they then encounter some villains (goblins/drow) who had been in mid-ambush of one of the lake settlements. These enemies had been from the main quest line, so it was not completely irrelevant. They then spent the remainder of the night fighting off the main story enemies. The night passes, and they are thanked by the settlement people and are given a reward and free stay at the inn. At the inn, they decide to sit and drink for the night, and figure out how to get these valuables from the lake the next day.
An old, black, male human overhears them discussing this, and then walks over to them and discusses with them that the lake monster would more than likely stop them from retrieving anything from the lake, but he could possibly help them the next morning if they helped him. The man explained that this monster had taken valuables from him and added it to his hoard, and that he has been longing to get it back. To do this, he plans on capturing the lake monster. The group agrees and sleeps until the next day.
The next day begins, and the group meets the old man at the lake. He had a giant net, grappling hooks, and bodies of some of the dead goblins from the previous night's attack. The group then takes goblin bodies, and begins to craft makeshift monster hunting fishing line and gear. The group attempts to catch the monster for some time, and after about 4 hours, the beast grabs on to the grappling hook. All the players work together and begin to pull it in, but eventually the monster lets go.
The group then thinks that the monster is a lost cause, when all of a sudden a huge wave and splash comes out of nowhere, and the monster is revealed. But rather than attacking, the monster was able to telepathically communicate with the group and ask them why they had been disturbing him. The group members quickly explain their situation and that they wish no harm. Only to retrieve some sort of blue glass orb, and the reasoning behind it. The monster feeling sympathetic for the people of the city, agrees to retrieve something from his hoard for them that they could use. But for a price.
He explains that if he is taking something from his hoard for the players, then he must have it replaced with gold. The group agrees, and then further asks the monster what they payment shall be...
And it was about that time, that the black old man realized that this monster was about eight stories tall and was a crustacean from the protozoic era. And the scale lake monster lowered it's head to the players and said... "I'm gonna need about tree fiddy".
*The Crafty Halfling*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4_pYXiqwMZBZ86J300NtA?view_as=subscriber
Nice way to juggle everything without losing the story! Those crafty player characters can come up with some ingenious solutions. And nice touch on the crustacean. It must have been a hoot to see their reactions at the pronunciation of "tree fiddy"
Now what? Did they swap the staff?
Don't leave us hanging...
They did actually leave the cave last night with some magic items. They then retrieved the "fake" staff, and were able put it in the place of the real one. The wizard now has his staff, and the group is ready for their final assault on the guild to take back the town. In the midst of the final assault, the group is ambushed at night by the same group of Drow (some of which are actually vampires), and they have come for revenge on the group, and to take prisoners. The night ended with one of the vampire leaders be-heading the guild leader to set an example to the group, to show them his power. He then told the group they had two choices. Come with him and become one with their army, in which case the civilians would get to live. Or refuse, in which case they will slaughter everyone in the town, including the players themselves.
And that's how last night concluded. Until next week.
*The Crafty Halfling*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4_pYXiqwMZBZ86J300NtA?view_as=subscriber
Nice. No pressure now :D