Since one of the people we usually play with can't for a week, I was thinking of making a quick Ravnica one shot. I can use the adventure provided in the sourcebook, but I kinda want to make my own, though I'll keep Kenko's as backup.
The story starts in an Azorius prison, where the players are under arrest for a crime they (presumably - one of my players is Always Chaotic Evil) didn't commit, probably the murder of an Azorius official. As they're sitting there, they're given lunch. In the lunch, there's hidden a note that says:
X (depending on how many players) of you have been given these notes. In 3 hours, the power will go out and all the cells will open. When they do, you must escape, and meet up with me and the other prisoners at the Rakdos circus in precinct 3. -A friend
When, and if, the players escape and meet up at the circus, they find that (puffin forest voice:) IT WAS A DECEPTION! The players were actually meant to die there, because Rakdos. If they manage to get out, they'll be assaulted by thugs hired by the big bad, who wants them dead. On the bodies of the thugs, they find a note written by the same guy who gave them the note in prison. An Azorius arrester who wants revenge for the guy the players supposedly killed.
I wrote the one shot with the intent that it could both serve as a plothook for a major story (who framed the players), and a self contained adventure, but I'd like some feedback. Like does the Rakdos part feel forced, and if so, should I replace it with something else, or just cut it entirely
For those unfamiliar: Azorius are the Ravnica government, legislative, judicial and executive power and all that. The Rakdos are entertainers who studied at the Joker's Clown School
The rakdos ambush could be just about anything. Rakdos, boros, and gruul are good guilds to hire as muscle. Rakdos and gruul may not be very cooperative, but would only take 1 inside agent to move a group of them. Boros are pretty much the same way, but they could probably be hired as vigilantes normally as well.
A simic, selesnia, or izzet could be hired to provide a monster.
Orzhov or dimir can be hired as assassins.
Or you can hire guildless thugs or capture a random beast from the rubblebelts.
I think the rakdos can work pretty efficiently. Just hire 1 cultist to go: "Looks like there are some uninvited guests at our party. Let's get them dressed for the occasion, and give them some party favors." Something like that.
Since one of the people we usually play with can't for a week, I was thinking of making a quick Ravnica one shot. I can use the adventure provided in the sourcebook, but I kinda want to make my own, though I'll keep Kenko's as backup.
The story starts in an Azorius prison, where the players are under arrest for a crime they (presumably - one of my players is Always Chaotic Evil) didn't commit, probably the murder of an Azorius official. As they're sitting there, they're given lunch. In the lunch, there's hidden a note that says:
X (depending on how many players) of you have been given these notes. In 3 hours, the power will go out and all the cells will open. When they do, you must escape, and meet up with me and the other prisoners at the Rakdos circus in precinct 3. -A friend
When, and if, the players escape and meet up at the circus, they find that (puffin forest voice:) IT WAS A DECEPTION! The players were actually meant to die there, because Rakdos. If they manage to get out, they'll be assaulted by thugs hired by the big bad, who wants them dead. On the bodies of the thugs, they find a note written by the same guy who gave them the note in prison. An Azorius arrester who wants revenge for the guy the players supposedly killed.
I wrote the one shot with the intent that it could both serve as a plothook for a major story (who framed the players), and a self contained adventure, but I'd like some feedback. Like does the Rakdos part feel forced, and if so, should I replace it with something else, or just cut it entirely
For those unfamiliar: Azorius are the Ravnica government, legislative, judicial and executive power and all that. The Rakdos are entertainers who studied at the Joker's Clown School
"What do you mean I get disadvantage on persuasion?"
I don't know, Sneet, maybe because your argument is "Submit and become our pet"?
-Actual conversation in a game.
Just to clarify the big bad is not a rakdos cultist right? Because that note is very not their style.
No, the "big bad" for the one shot is a corrupt Azorius, the Rakdos cultists are just doing their own thing.
"What do you mean I get disadvantage on persuasion?"
I don't know, Sneet, maybe because your argument is "Submit and become our pet"?
-Actual conversation in a game.
The rakdos ambush could be just about anything. Rakdos, boros, and gruul are good guilds to hire as muscle. Rakdos and gruul may not be very cooperative, but would only take 1 inside agent to move a group of them. Boros are pretty much the same way, but they could probably be hired as vigilantes normally as well.
A simic, selesnia, or izzet could be hired to provide a monster.
Orzhov or dimir can be hired as assassins.
Or you can hire guildless thugs or capture a random beast from the rubblebelts.
I think the rakdos can work pretty efficiently. Just hire 1 cultist to go: "Looks like there are some uninvited guests at our party. Let's get them dressed for the occasion, and give them some party favors." Something like that.