Hello Everyone, I'm looking for some brainstorming for a one-shot I'm preparing for some friends whilst we're on holiday. My players will be lvl 3.
The set up is that Kumiko Kagemori, a high-ranking member of the Lord's Alliance is visiting the major cities of Faerûn to unite against a growing threat from the south, the Orcish horde led by Gorzag, a devout zealot of Gruumsh. Kumiko is the daughter of a recently deceased and extremely well-renowned military general, and it is to her that the Alliance are turning to lead a resistance against the horde.
Kumiko is making a public appearance in Neverwinter to boost morale. There will be a tournament held in her honour, with street vendors, acrobats, mummers and food stalls who will all jostle for coin; the entire city will be brimming with excited citizens and adventurers and ... Gorzog has sent some assassins to kill Kumiko in order to deal a crushing blow to the Alliance.
The PCs have been hired as mercenaries to provide some extra security detail, as an Orcish assassin has recently been captured by Caiyito, Kumiko's bodyguard. Although the assassin has so far remained tight lipped as to whether he was acting alone, Kumiko's advisors are suitably concerned about her safety.
I'll start off with the party being told to remain vigilant but to leave any investigation to Caiyito and his soldiers. They'll receive half of their pay now, the other half when Kumiko leaves the city alive in three days' time.
I want to throw some interesting assassination plots for the PCs to stumble upon and I have a few ideas of my own, but I would love to read about ways other DMs would play out an assassination plot in this scenario.
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Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
I would consider the idea that the orcish assassination is a decoy, and the real plot is being put together by one of Kumiko's fathers old enemies. Someone he soundly defeated, or possibly the son/daughter of the above. They've hired some Orc's to "Kill Kumiko" knowing full well that they would never be bright enough to pull it off (and if they did, fine), but hopefully will attract enough attention for the real assassin to get the job done. The orc held captive could have something unusual on them that would lead to the real plot, or have something in the room/house that the rest of the orcish gang are holed up in. Coins from a different realm maybe? There's always the possibility of a letter with directions on the job etc. Depends how easy you want to make it for your group.
Level 3 and they're important protectors of this important woman?
I'd make whoever hired them the person paying for the assassin(s). When it works (or they just barely foil it), the players have a bit of a reckoning moment. They're powerful, sure, but there are power players beyond their current abilities, and gives them a villain that should DEFINITELY escape. I'd go so far that the person that hired them is a simulacrum of a more powerful individual, or an enslaved person under a geas that dies in front of the party when found out. Fail to protect Kumiko, and they have a target that is worth pursuing. Succeed, and Kumiko can send them on a quest to find her attacker.
I would consider the idea that the orcish assassination is a decoy, and the real plot is being put together by one of Kumiko's fathers old enemies. Someone he soundly defeated, or possibly the son/daughter of the above. They've hired some Orc's to "Kill Kumiko" knowing full well that they would never be bright enough to pull it off (and if they did, fine), but hopefully will attract enough attention for the real assassin to get the job done. The orc held captive could have something unusual on them that would lead to the real plot, or have something in the room/house that the rest of the orcish gang are holed up in. Coins from a different realm maybe? There's always the possibility of a letter with directions on the job etc. Depends how easy you want to make it for your group.
This is really interesting. My thoughts for the captured orc were for him to reveal he wasn't working alone but trigger a poison gas capsule hidden in his back molar before giving up how many assassins there are. There could certainly be something on his corpse that reveal there is more afoot than first thought.
Level 3 and they're important protectors of this important woman?
I'd make whoever hired them the person paying for the assassin(s). When it works (or they just barely foil it), the players have a bit of a reckoning moment. They're powerful, sure, but there are power players beyond their current abilities, and gives them a villain that should DEFINITELY escape. I'd go so far that the person that hired them is a simulacrum of a more powerful individual, or an enslaved person under a geas that dies in front of the party when found out. Fail to protect Kumiko, and they have a target that is worth pursuing. Succeed, and Kumiko can send them on a quest to find her attacker.
At level 3 I want the session to feel like they're ordinary grunts who suddenly find themselves caught up in something a lot bigger than a simple payday.
Their contact giving them the assignment is an elf named Forcystus. I like the idea that there could be scope for him to be a double agent (Zhentarim most likely?) and him also hiring the assassins would be a great twist for the PCs to uncover.
Thank you both for your great suggestions!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
I thought of a crazy idea. What if a party member is the assassin? I'm thinking of an unwitting dupe charmed into driving a poisoned knife into her back.
They would be perfect. Low leveled but skilled. Maybe even a conspiracy in the Alliance for some reason.
Hello Everyone, I'm looking for some brainstorming for a one-shot I'm preparing for some friends whilst we're on holiday. My players will be lvl 3.
The set up is that Kumiko Kagemori, a high-ranking member of the Lord's Alliance is visiting the major cities of Faerûn to unite against a growing threat from the south, the Orcish horde led by Gorzag, a devout zealot of Gruumsh. Kumiko is the daughter of a recently deceased and extremely well-renowned military general, and it is to her that the Alliance are turning to lead a resistance against the horde.
Kumiko is making a public appearance in Neverwinter to boost morale. There will be a tournament held in her honour, with street vendors, acrobats, mummers and food stalls who will all jostle for coin; the entire city will be brimming with excited citizens and adventurers and ... Gorzog has sent some assassins to kill Kumiko in order to deal a crushing blow to the Alliance.
The PCs have been hired as mercenaries to provide some extra security detail, as an Orcish assassin has recently been captured by Caiyito, Kumiko's bodyguard. Although the assassin has so far remained tight lipped as to whether he was acting alone, Kumiko's advisors are suitably concerned about her safety.
I'll start off with the party being told to remain vigilant but to leave any investigation to Caiyito and his soldiers. They'll receive half of their pay now, the other half when Kumiko leaves the city alive in three days' time.
I want to throw some interesting assassination plots for the PCs to stumble upon and I have a few ideas of my own, but I would love to read about ways other DMs would play out an assassination plot in this scenario.
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
I would consider the idea that the orcish assassination is a decoy, and the real plot is being put together by one of Kumiko's fathers old enemies. Someone he soundly defeated, or possibly the son/daughter of the above. They've hired some Orc's to "Kill Kumiko" knowing full well that they would never be bright enough to pull it off (and if they did, fine), but hopefully will attract enough attention for the real assassin to get the job done. The orc held captive could have something unusual on them that would lead to the real plot, or have something in the room/house that the rest of the orcish gang are holed up in. Coins from a different realm maybe? There's always the possibility of a letter with directions on the job etc. Depends how easy you want to make it for your group.
Level 3 and they're important protectors of this important woman?
I'd make whoever hired them the person paying for the assassin(s). When it works (or they just barely foil it), the players have a bit of a reckoning moment. They're powerful, sure, but there are power players beyond their current abilities, and gives them a villain that should DEFINITELY escape. I'd go so far that the person that hired them is a simulacrum of a more powerful individual, or an enslaved person under a geas that dies in front of the party when found out. Fail to protect Kumiko, and they have a target that is worth pursuing. Succeed, and Kumiko can send them on a quest to find her attacker.
This is really interesting. My thoughts for the captured orc were for him to reveal he wasn't working alone but trigger a poison gas capsule hidden in his back molar before giving up how many assassins there are. There could certainly be something on his corpse that reveal there is more afoot than first thought.
At level 3 I want the session to feel like they're ordinary grunts who suddenly find themselves caught up in something a lot bigger than a simple payday.
Their contact giving them the assignment is an elf named Forcystus. I like the idea that there could be scope for him to be a double agent (Zhentarim most likely?) and him also hiring the assassins would be a great twist for the PCs to uncover.
Thank you both for your great suggestions!
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
I like the suggestions too.
I thought of a crazy idea. What if a party member is the assassin? I'm thinking of an unwitting dupe charmed into driving a poisoned knife into her back.
They would be perfect. Low leveled but skilled. Maybe even a conspiracy in the Alliance for some reason.
Played this one out a few nights ago and it turned into a 6 hour session.
They suspected Forcystus, the head of Kumiko's security, of foul play. I thought that was a great idea so I let them uncover his plot.
He was killed in the arena as he attempted to kill Kumiko after the Orcs had failed.
Everyone enjoyed it and it looks like I'll have to plan a follow up! 😁
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.