We're playing through a version of Ghosts of Saltmarsh and my party have been tasked with completing an errand to the outpost/garrison of Burle. They knew nothing about the outpost town before arriving, but this is a heavily fortified small town with lots of bounty hunters and soldiers. The bounty hunters are known for hunting aberrations and elementals. One of the members of the group has a pet fire elemental and has so far kept it hidden while in town. However, some people in the town are growing suspicious.
How would you deal with this?
Should I have them arrested? Have a couple of bounty hunters try to capture the pet and kill it to claim the bounty? I'm not sure how to proceed
I think you can make it as big or as little a deal as you want.
If you don't want it to have a major impact, perhaps have a few 'pitchforks' confront you but end up delighted as the elemental performs tricks or act cutely.
If you want to step it up, have the 'pitchforks' gather, but Wander Root intervenes, stating that he senses this creature will be vital to the towns survival (perhaps you could have the pet do something important in an encounter later - maybe calming a creature attacking from the Dreadwood or Drowned Forest).
Or, have Kiara herself confront the party, intending to drive them out of town but ends up convinced that the party could help with some important quest (your choice).
Perhaps an unscrupulous villager/sorcerer discovers the truth and attempts to blackmail the party, having them run an errand in return for silence (and/or a potion or spell that disguises the elemental as something else).
All of these should allow you to remain friendly with the townsfolk. I don't know your group, but if they're similar to mine, removing the pet is a bad idea and will probably upset them (like a lot), so the above ideas should help avoid that.
We're playing through a version of Ghosts of Saltmarsh and my party have been tasked with completing an errand to the outpost/garrison of Burle. They knew nothing about the outpost town before arriving, but this is a heavily fortified small town with lots of bounty hunters and soldiers. The bounty hunters are known for hunting aberrations and elementals. One of the members of the group has a pet fire elemental and has so far kept it hidden while in town. However, some people in the town are growing suspicious.
How would you deal with this?
Should I have them arrested? Have a couple of bounty hunters try to capture the pet and kill it to claim the bounty? I'm not sure how to proceed
I think you can make it as big or as little a deal as you want.
If you don't want it to have a major impact, perhaps have a few 'pitchforks' confront you but end up delighted as the elemental performs tricks or act cutely.
If you want to step it up, have the 'pitchforks' gather, but Wander Root intervenes, stating that he senses this creature will be vital to the towns survival (perhaps you could have the pet do something important in an encounter later - maybe calming a creature attacking from the Dreadwood or Drowned Forest).
Or, have Kiara herself confront the party, intending to drive them out of town but ends up convinced that the party could help with some important quest (your choice).
Perhaps an unscrupulous villager/sorcerer discovers the truth and attempts to blackmail the party, having them run an errand in return for silence (and/or a potion or spell that disguises the elemental as something else).
All of these should allow you to remain friendly with the townsfolk. I don't know your group, but if they're similar to mine, removing the pet is a bad idea and will probably upset them (like a lot), so the above ideas should help avoid that.
Hope that gives you some ideas.
Thanks, that helps and gives me more ideas. I like all the option, and especially the blackmail I hadn't thought of that.
:D