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...and I'm not sure what I should be doing with them.
They're all higher level than the PCs, at least to begin with. They've all got levels in PC classes, even. All of them but one are or have been in the past "adventurers," with all the combat capability and aptitude for derring-do that implies.
So how should I fit them into the game around my PCs?
In particular, I'm curious about things like exploration/combat CR, XP awards, and so on. Will the encounters in JR assume one or more of the NPCs will be fighting alongside the PCs? If they do, how should XP awards change, if at all? Should I plan to modify the encounters on the fly based on their presence or absence? Will the AP include indications when/how they level, or will they level at all? I assume at some point the AP will come right out and say, "PCs who take Leadership should consider taking [NPC Whoever] as a cohort!" which would resolve at least some of the issues... but also assumes the players are interested in taking Leadership, which I am loathe to guarantee.
By my admittedly limited time reading the AP so far, I make the following interpretations/observations:
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- The PCs should be Level 2 by the time they even consider joining up with the NPCs--so the power gap will be smaller than initially suggested.
- The journey from Sandpoint to Brinewall Castle only involves caravan-level combat unless you want to alter things. The NPCs take a part in that level of combat but don't overshadow the PCs.
- When they reach Brinewall Castle, Spoiler:. There's one NPC you don't need to deal with.Ameiko is possessed by a kami and lapses into a coma
- The text says that the other three NPCs are "content to remain at the caravan to guard and protect Ameiko while the PCs head into Brinewall..." That's enough for me, but if you need more motivation to keep the NPCs out of it, then...
- Sandru had a Spoiler:(see the bottom half of the left column on p53). I believe he's had enough of 'adventuring' in the traditional sense.traumatic experience as an adventurer while running around with Ameiko
- Koya is old and going through an existential crisis. The text in her entry (p55) says that she becomes "more energetic and excited" "the longer the journey progresses". It's not unreasonable to assume that by the time the heroes reach Brinewall, she's still rather lost in her funk and not sure of her own capabilities.
- Shalelu is the most problematic of the three--doubly so since she's also the highest-level character. Aside from the stand-ins of "I'll defend Ameiko, you four go find out what's going on inside Brinewall" or "you go in the front door--I'll see if there's another way in", Shalelu could well be motivated to stay with the caravan because she cares for Ameiko. Shalelu's text says she cares for Ameiko "as a younger sister", so that's a pretty powerful tie right there for Shalelu to stay behind.
Hopefully that provides enough options for you to consider--but I'd strongly suggest leaving the NPCs behind at the caravan while the PCs storm Brinewall Castle.
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As folks have posted... the adventure is built to handle the fact that the four significant NPCs are initially higher level than the PCs.
To clarify, I am not so much concerned about Brinewall as I am about the adventures that will follow, if for no other reason than I'm worried about "what excuse are you going to use to keep the NPCs from coming along this time?" starting to show up. Even without that, though, I'd like to know about whether the adventures will include a level progression for the NPCs, and whether the encounters will be or should be modified in the eventuality of an NPC or two helping out.
Even within Brinewall Legacy, in fact, there's
As written, the adventure indicates that Kelda has lost interest in the treasure after losing her shieldbrothers to the drake and being captured, and she is likely in poor condition when initially found. While that could be remedied by the PC healer, the adventure assumes that she will go rest up at the caravan campsite rather than accompanying her. At the point that the party is likely to rescue her, only a handful of encounters remain; at that point, it makes considerably more sense for the devs to leave it to the individual GMs to adjust them.
As to the seal--the PCs have a close connection to Ameiko and her closest confidantes, which Kelda lacks. It is quite reasonable in that light for the seal to mark only the PCs as scions, and not Kelda, even if she is present.
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So Ameiko holds the rock at a safe place (the caravan), and you'ze guys go try and don't die to much.
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Actually thinking about it now...
Should no Amatatsus of pure blood be able to take up that charge, however, the Amatatsu Seal can
invest the right to rule as an Amatatsu in any number of living
humanoid hosts. These Amatatsu scions often experience a series
of visions of the past, present, and possible future.
Why were the players made scions? Ameiko is able to... (unless that kami breaking those laws does something to that whole process as a later plot point...)
I assume the stone only chooses people loyal to the royal family. So 'knighting' others isn't possible. So there are no previous scions I suppose; unless I'm mistaken and the previous guards were scions, at which point resurrection time for more npcs (we have Tsutamu's remains).
Now that I'm thinking about it.. these may come up at my table... any thoughts? I personally don't think raising Tsutamu is a problem, but with something that can rez scions from the last 200 years... And if Ameiko can be targeted why can't her family members...
** spoiler omitted **
Well, the text does say that
I dare say that Tsutamu was not considered an Amatatsu scion at the time of his death (Lonjiku was still alive back then).
That leaves Lonjiku (presuming his remains are still available back in Sandpoint). Ameiko may well be reluctant to bring her father back and--depending on what was found out about Lonjiku's past during the time of Rise of the Runelords, the PCs may be unwilling to bring him back either. Plus the seal might not want to bring him back. Or Lonjiku himself may be unwilling to return.
As for why the players were made scions--I'm willing to bet the answer is somewhere in between 'in case the players are the kind of folks who don't like being overshadowed by NPCs and will be unwilling to see an NPC crowned instead of them' and 'in case Ameiko dies permanently during the adventure--then at least the PCs have a reason not to throw their hands in the air, turn around and go home'.
Either way, it is an elegant solution to both potential problems.
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So as well as the PCs that the seal itself designates as scions, Ameiko should be subject to its magic as well.
Creative Director
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Not sure why we're spoilering everything since the word spoiler is in the thread title, but...
An Amatatsu scion is one of 2 things. A member of the family (like Ameiko) or a person chosen by the Amatatsu Seal. This is basically the way we set up ALL of the PCs as possibly becoming rulers or co-rulers of Minkai if they want—it's also insurance if Ameiko dies along the way or is lost or whatever in a way that they can't or don't bring her back to life.
Lonjiku does count as a scion as well, but the Amatatsu Seal would never resurrect him because he was kind of a chump—he caused a fair amount of problems for the family, after all, and put the seal itself in great danger back in the day. The Amatatsu Seal is not a big fan of Lonjiku.
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Creative Director
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As for the NPCs, be they one of the four significant ones or one of the several the PCs could ally with along the way...
They're basically tools for you, the GM. If you think the PCs need help in the adventure, you can have any of these NPCs accompany the PCs. If you think the PCs are doing fine and don't need help, the NPCs can cool their jets back at the caravan, and if the PCs get themselves caught or defeated or whatever, you can use the NPCs as saviors who swoop in to rescue the PCs or even as new characters for the PCs to play.
In any case, having helper NPCs on an adventure doesn't affect XP or CR of encounters at all. It makes the PCs able to handler tougher encounters, and you might want to consider including the NPCs as part of the XP division (which further dilutes how many XP each PC gets)... but every GM handles the game differently.