Designing an upcoming encounter featuring a trio of medusa. The idea is that these medusa strive to cling onto their humanity and do not want to petrify or kill adventurers. In fact, they often meet adventurers with an offer of respite in their home from the harsh weather outside, disguised as a group of three blind women. It is only when the adventurers do something that triggers their more "monstrous" tendencies, do they turn their aggression on the adventurers. After which, they move their victims to a statue garden hidden behind their home. They rationalize their aggression and tactics on either self-defense or that the adventurers deserve their fate for their actions. However, I was hoping for some suggestions on potential triggers for these medusa to turn aggressive. Obviously, attacking them would be a trigger, but I was hoping to come up with several of these triggers to see, but I am kind of hitting a wall. Any suggestions for these triggers or even some subtle hints to leave for the party to realize things are not as the seem?
A group of three blind women will naturally cause PCs to become suspicious, though they may suspect a hag coven rather than medusae.
As far as triggers, what do you actually want from the encounter? I would generally either make the medusae legitimately benevolent, in which case there needn't be any triggers other than bad behavior by the PCs, or malevolent, in which case they'll reveal themselves once the PCs are vulnerable.
Well, the idea is that they want to be benevolent, but easily give into their more malevolent nature. They only intend to help. But, if the PC's make them angry, disrespect them, or something of that ilk. Then, their true natures will be revealed. Essentially, using your vernacular, I want to construct a list of possible PC "bad behaviors," to provide myself with a guide going into the encounter. I fully expect my PC's to find away to doing something I am not expecting, but have a few potential ideas helps me shape the medusa responses.
Medusa was known for her beauty, is one or more members of the party particularly attractive, or do they have really lovely hair. Maybe the medusas can keep it together until the pretty one says something funny or mean or anything less than perfectly respectful. If someone brings up snakes, they go off. If someone brings up the town they were originally from. There could be any number of triggers. Another option would be to let the party know what they are. “Don’t talk to the old women about snakes if you know what’s good for you” So the party can decide if they want to pick the fight or not.
They could be all about trying to redeem themselves of their monstrosity. So if the party gives indication that they view anyone, or even monsters as irredeemable, that would set them off. If they tell stories from their adventures that make them out to be murderhobos, that would do it. If they steal from them or abuse their hospitality, that would set them off.
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Designing an upcoming encounter featuring a trio of medusa. The idea is that these medusa strive to cling onto their humanity and do not want to petrify or kill adventurers. In fact, they often meet adventurers with an offer of respite in their home from the harsh weather outside, disguised as a group of three blind women. It is only when the adventurers do something that triggers their more "monstrous" tendencies, do they turn their aggression on the adventurers. After which, they move their victims to a statue garden hidden behind their home. They rationalize their aggression and tactics on either self-defense or that the adventurers deserve their fate for their actions. However, I was hoping for some suggestions on potential triggers for these medusa to turn aggressive. Obviously, attacking them would be a trigger, but I was hoping to come up with several of these triggers to see, but I am kind of hitting a wall. Any suggestions for these triggers or even some subtle hints to leave for the party to realize things are not as the seem?
A group of three blind women will naturally cause PCs to become suspicious, though they may suspect a hag coven rather than medusae.
As far as triggers, what do you actually want from the encounter? I would generally either make the medusae legitimately benevolent, in which case there needn't be any triggers other than bad behavior by the PCs, or malevolent, in which case they'll reveal themselves once the PCs are vulnerable.
Well, the idea is that they want to be benevolent, but easily give into their more malevolent nature. They only intend to help. But, if the PC's make them angry, disrespect them, or something of that ilk. Then, their true natures will be revealed. Essentially, using your vernacular, I want to construct a list of possible PC "bad behaviors," to provide myself with a guide going into the encounter. I fully expect my PC's to find away to doing something I am not expecting, but have a few potential ideas helps me shape the medusa responses.
Medusa was known for her beauty, is one or more members of the party particularly attractive, or do they have really lovely hair. Maybe the medusas can keep it together until the pretty one says something funny or mean or anything less than perfectly respectful.
If someone brings up snakes, they go off.
If someone brings up the town they were originally from.
There could be any number of triggers. Another option would be to let the party know what they are. “Don’t talk to the old women about snakes if you know what’s good for you” So the party can decide if they want to pick the fight or not.
They could be all about trying to redeem themselves of their monstrosity. So if the party gives indication that they view anyone, or even monsters as irredeemable, that would set them off. If they tell stories from their adventures that make them out to be murderhobos, that would do it. If they steal from them or abuse their hospitality, that would set them off.