So, my party had a recent PC death, but have access to an NPC willing to cast raise dead, if party provides the material components. The party cannot afford to buy an apporpriate diamond outright, so I figured I would run a side quest for the surviving members of the party to obtain the diamond. Any ideas for this kind of one-shot, side quest?
Do you have a player's background or relations you could integrate into this? What kind of campaign is this? Are the players willing to do a heist to get it? A heist is what I'd personally go with, as long as it made sense. Is there a character that might have one that the players could do something in trade for? That would be a good alternative for a non-theft way of getting it.
That's as far as I'm willing to go until I have more information.
Hmm, heists are always pretty fun, especially if you have a rogue or two. Or maybe they have to do a job for a group of miners of some sort? Like clear out a monster den? It really depends on how high level your party is, and their skills, but I hope my recommendations help!
Here is some information in the campaign situation. Well, party is level 5-6. They are currently in a city is kind if a desert oasis. The only "roguish" PC is the one that died, so I am thinking a heist is not likely, but I intend to present that as an option if they want to pursue. So, I was hoping for an alternative or two, other than a heist. I thought about a monster den idea, but with the desert surrounding the city where the NPC is. I am struggling for a proper hook, since there really isn't much mining in the area. Perhaps, some kind of trade is an option, but given the parties skills, assets, and backgrounds, I dont think that will work.
Then I'd go with discovering or being hired to investigate the ruins of an ancient civilization. With in the large Treasure room, that is a primary objective, there is a usable diamond among other things. You can extend this idea by making that only in the first area, and the party not able to proceed without the skills of their currently deceased friend.
A Lamia’s lair populated with Jackalweres may be an interesting encounter and would be appropriate for a desert setting.
or they could be called to assist a young Brass Dragon caught in a turf war with a stronger Young Blue Dragon; a suitable gem could be part of the blue dragons hoard.
The person casting the raise dead might also have a diamond in stock, and raise the character before the heist, or whatever you go with, let them pay him back by getting a new diamond, that way the player with the dead character can still participate. Also, then, there doesn't necessarily need to be a diamond, they could just do a service for the raise-er.
Lots of good ideas. If the npc can raise the dead but required payment and the materials.
I'd twist this around on the players. That's just me. In the city they are currently the npc knows there is a crystal on display at a local museum or religious temple that's well protected by guards and glyphs that reduce magic and stealth.
Three npc actually has the materials needed to raise the dead but wants the crystal for other purposes he keeps secret. Perhaps it holds the soul of an ancient evil diety or creature that the npc secretly worships or works for.
So players returning that crystal causes both a good thing bringing back their player and a consequence of what happens when the npc gets that crystal.
Also you could look into the Yuan-Ti. They don't get a lot of love, but there are a few different Yuan-Ti option in the MM, making it easy to populate a sunken temple or somesuch with interesting monsters. They're an ancient civilisation that live in deserts that would very plausably have a diamond of that sort of value in their temple.
You could also have the PCs meet a member of the local nobility who offers them a diamond in exchange for doing something to undermine his/her rival via favor with the local monarch. The rival would be an NPC who does a lot of good for the local region but lacks the gems b/c their caravan traveling through the desert just got robbed. (See where this can lead?) Then you can spin this off several different ways depending on how the party approaches the problem.
So, my party had a recent PC death, but have access to an NPC willing to cast raise dead, if party provides the material components. The party cannot afford to buy an apporpriate diamond outright, so I figured I would run a side quest for the surviving members of the party to obtain the diamond. Any ideas for this kind of one-shot, side quest?
Do you have a player's background or relations you could integrate into this? What kind of campaign is this? Are the players willing to do a heist to get it? A heist is what I'd personally go with, as long as it made sense. Is there a character that might have one that the players could do something in trade for? That would be a good alternative for a non-theft way of getting it.
That's as far as I'm willing to go until I have more information.
Hmm, heists are always pretty fun, especially if you have a rogue or two. Or maybe they have to do a job for a group of miners of some sort? Like clear out a monster den? It really depends on how high level your party is, and their skills, but I hope my recommendations help!
"You are a slave. Want emancipation?"
-Persona 5
Thank you for the ideas.
Here is some information in the campaign situation. Well, party is level 5-6. They are currently in a city is kind if a desert oasis. The only "roguish" PC is the one that died, so I am thinking a heist is not likely, but I intend to present that as an option if they want to pursue. So, I was hoping for an alternative or two, other than a heist. I thought about a monster den idea, but with the desert surrounding the city where the NPC is. I am struggling for a proper hook, since there really isn't much mining in the area. Perhaps, some kind of trade is an option, but given the parties skills, assets, and backgrounds, I dont think that will work.
Then I'd go with discovering or being hired to investigate the ruins of an ancient civilization. With in the large Treasure room, that is a primary objective, there is a usable diamond among other things. You can extend this idea by making that only in the first area, and the party not able to proceed without the skills of their currently deceased friend.
A Lamia’s lair populated with Jackalweres may be an interesting encounter and would be appropriate for a desert setting.
or they could be called to assist a young Brass Dragon caught in a turf war with a stronger Young Blue Dragon; a suitable gem could be part of the blue dragons hoard.
The person casting the raise dead might also have a diamond in stock, and raise the character before the heist, or whatever you go with, let them pay him back by getting a new diamond, that way the player with the dead character can still participate. Also, then, there doesn't necessarily need to be a diamond, they could just do a service for the raise-er.
Love the ideas. Thanks.
Lots of good ideas. If the npc can raise the dead but required payment and the materials.
I'd twist this around on the players. That's just me. In the city they are currently the npc knows there is a crystal on display at a local museum or religious temple that's well protected by guards and glyphs that reduce magic and stealth.
Three npc actually has the materials needed to raise the dead but wants the crystal for other purposes he keeps secret. Perhaps it holds the soul of an ancient evil diety or creature that the npc secretly worships or works for.
So players returning that crystal causes both a good thing bringing back their player and a consequence of what happens when the npc gets that crystal.
Food for thought.
Also you could look into the Yuan-Ti. They don't get a lot of love, but there are a few different Yuan-Ti option in the MM, making it easy to populate a sunken temple or somesuch with interesting monsters. They're an ancient civilisation that live in deserts that would very plausably have a diamond of that sort of value in their temple.
You could also have the PCs meet a member of the local nobility who offers them a diamond in exchange for doing something to undermine his/her rival via favor with the local monarch. The rival would be an NPC who does a lot of good for the local region but lacks the gems b/c their caravan traveling through the desert just got robbed. (See where this can lead?) Then you can spin this off several different ways depending on how the party approaches the problem.
Seriously, great ideas. Thank you. I'm probably going prep a bit of all of it, and see how my players decide to run with it. Thanks again.