I run a group of two level fives, and where we left off last session was pretty neutral ground where anything could happen and they would just go with it. Basically, they work for an organization similar to the Harpers (the white daggers) and they work to bring down the corrupt king (who is secretly an Efreeti). Problem is, the group has been doing considerably damage to the king's operations to the point where he has to take notice. I want him to have his minions try and kidnap the players and bring them to this dungeon full of undead (the king doesn't want to kill them outright and wants them to suffer). So does anyone have an idea for a middle ground, I don't want the session to start with them getting kidnapped so I need a point B. I'm open to pretty much any suggestion.
Assassin fight! The players have a sneaking suspicion and are shown throughout the session that the king wants them dead, and then finally the assassins come out. Large fight, very close, but ultimately the party loses (the enemies are just too strong!) And they are all knocked out and wake up in the dungeon.
Bonus points because now, the party has faces and enemies they'd want revenge against. Those assassins will be a ripe encounter later once the party gets stronger, and you can bet they'll love re-encountering them.
Something like that, maybe.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
If the king knows they're working for this organization, or otherwise understands the kind of work they've been doing, you could have him send out fake recruiters who're "against the king, and love the good work" the players have been doing. Have them ask the players to help them, idk, break into some secret headquarters of the king's. In reality of course, that secret headquarters is the undead dungeon, and when the players reach it, a barred door or a cage or just a ton of other kingsmen drop down over them, trapping them. They'll feel doublecrossed while also knowing that, since they chose to help these people, they had some choice in what happened. From there you can have the king himself, or someone else, explain what just happened, so now the characters know to be scared and that the king is watching them and knows what they're up to. Maybe you can have them try to escape, or maybe the torturers just let them go, and have one of them follow, constantly rolling stealth checks to watch the players and report back to the king, until the players find and deal with them. Adds a new importance to secrecy to the game afterwards
I really like both ideas, sneaking into their own dungeon is funny to think about. Just one of them says "the king sends their regards" as they lock the doors behind them into the dungeon. Pretty genius, I'll probably include an assassin of some sort in the session somewhere. Thx guys
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I run a group of two level fives, and where we left off last session was pretty neutral ground where anything could happen and they would just go with it. Basically, they work for an organization similar to the Harpers (the white daggers) and they work to bring down the corrupt king (who is secretly an Efreeti). Problem is, the group has been doing considerably damage to the king's operations to the point where he has to take notice. I want him to have his minions try and kidnap the players and bring them to this dungeon full of undead (the king doesn't want to kill them outright and wants them to suffer). So does anyone have an idea for a middle ground, I don't want the session to start with them getting kidnapped so I need a point B. I'm open to pretty much any suggestion.
Assassin fight! The players have a sneaking suspicion and are shown throughout the session that the king wants them dead, and then finally the assassins come out. Large fight, very close, but ultimately the party loses (the enemies are just too strong!) And they are all knocked out and wake up in the dungeon.
Bonus points because now, the party has faces and enemies they'd want revenge against. Those assassins will be a ripe encounter later once the party gets stronger, and you can bet they'll love re-encountering them.
Something like that, maybe.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
If the king knows they're working for this organization, or otherwise understands the kind of work they've been doing, you could have him send out fake recruiters who're "against the king, and love the good work" the players have been doing. Have them ask the players to help them, idk, break into some secret headquarters of the king's. In reality of course, that secret headquarters is the undead dungeon, and when the players reach it, a barred door or a cage or just a ton of other kingsmen drop down over them, trapping them. They'll feel doublecrossed while also knowing that, since they chose to help these people, they had some choice in what happened. From there you can have the king himself, or someone else, explain what just happened, so now the characters know to be scared and that the king is watching them and knows what they're up to. Maybe you can have them try to escape, or maybe the torturers just let them go, and have one of them follow, constantly rolling stealth checks to watch the players and report back to the king, until the players find and deal with them. Adds a new importance to secrecy to the game afterwards
:)
I really like both ideas, sneaking into their own dungeon is funny to think about. Just one of them says "the king sends their regards" as they lock the doors behind them into the dungeon. Pretty genius, I'll probably include an assassin of some sort in the session somewhere. Thx guys