Taldan Antiquities

[Gromnar]

Hello!

I'm wondering if any loremaster's can help me with NPC reaction regarding Taldan law. I'm GMing a home game of the Dragon's Demand and need some advise on how to deal with the below issue.

Please be advised there are spoilers for the Dragon's Demand here. Please don't read any further if you want to avoid any plot points from that fantastic module.

So, I'm at the point in the module where the PCs become dragonslayers and agree to head to the Crypt of Tula to acquire the potent dragonslaying treasures within. They have done well to integrate themselves into the town and they are very trusted by the Baroness and the populace.

Saying this, I'm having the campaign continue in Taldor for some time after the module is finished, but they will be moving to other locales later on. The PCs will be Knights of Taldor if they're successful in slaying the dragon and thus minor members of the aristocracy. According to some lore I've found on Pathfinderwiki, Grand Prince Stavian III has taken interest in keeping historic and cultural relics of Taldor within Taldor's borders. He's put heavy taxes and tariffs on such items to discourage them from leaving the Empire.

All in all, I'm wondering what I should do about the treasure within Tula's crypt. The Baroness has asked them to treat the relics with respect and not desecrate the remains of the town founder, and I can see the PCs complying with that. She needs them to get these items to help save her town, but she'll also want to comply with Imperial law and try to ensure these items stay in Taldor after the PCs are done with them.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should handle this? My initial thoughts on options are either:

1) The PCs return the items to the tomb after their finished (and miss out on a lot of treasure in the grand scale)
2) The PCs can keep the items until they leave Taldor, in which the Empire 'encourages' they leave them behind under the Baroness' care, or otherwise face stiff taxes
3) The PCs can keep the items until they leave Taldor, in which they trade them for an x amount of clout/political leverage/or gp from the Empire in non-relic items

Any help would be appreciated!

[John Kretzer]

Gromnar wrote:

1) The PCs return the items to the tomb after their finished (and miss out on a lot of treasure in the grand scale)

2) The PCs can keep the items until they leave Taldor, in which the Empire 'encourages' they leave them behind under the Baroness' care, or otherwise face stiff taxes
3) The PCs can keep the items until they leave Taldor, in which they trade them for an x amount of clout/political leverage/or gp from the Empire in non-relic items

I say a combination of the first one and the third one. Meaning if they return the items to the tomb they will be rewarded with equal value.

[Major_Blackhart]

I don't know. Then there's no real consequences to the choice.

Here's my take on it. They can return the relics and not only get the recognition of the town and maybe some additional support in the form of land and servants (think lesser leadership feat) or it can go so far as to them being recognized by a local baron, who backs them for further nobility up the chain of command.

If they take the stuff to keep, they can gain enmity from the town, and pay either a major fine, or skip out on the fine and become outlaws. Taldors borders are huge after all.

This could be the start of some rivals gunning for them, a descendant of the adventurer with some class levels, a rival, etc. Make the choice a hard one at that, therefor the bad choice is easier but the consequences of such are more drastic.

Or they could convince the town they will put these tools to their intended use and slay dragons and other monsters that threaten TTaldorand the land, which could allow for the local nobles to beseech the government in getting your group to avoid paying the tax.

[JPSTOD]

Since they Became Knights of Taldor
I granted mine Weapons upgrade up to +2 on Their Own Weapons...And Required them to name their weapon

They decided to return on their own the weapons and Personal items belonging to the Dragonslayers..Nonpersonal items were allowed to be kept.

Barin Brice Thane Human Paladin added Flaming Burst to his Already +1 Keen Greatsword
Kitka "Gnollfoe" Trapsinger Gnome Rogue added +1/+1 to her Masterwork Hooked Gnome Hammer
Rene' Human Swashbuckler has not Decided yet..

They were also granted Lands..and Since the Spirit Of Lady Tulia Belhaim degreed them Dragon Slayers of Nazilli...Baroness Devey is granting them lands which Included the Ruins of Nazilli..I am mapping it out now..I am mapping it in CC3. Ruins will be inhabited by Bugbears, Gnolls and maybe a couple of Hill Giants

Trying to Center My Campaign Around Being Dragon Slayers

I am making them Parchments with their Land Grants and the Spirits of The Dragonslayers will present them with Ancient Amulets with the Dragon Slayers of Nazilli symbol on them (found a Nice Graphic I liked online.

[Major_Blackhart]

Not a bad solution. Will you have a little meta gaming regarding land management?

[JPSTOD]

Not sure what you mean? by meta gaming Land Management?

[Major_Blackhart]

Have situations develop regarding their lands and serfs etc that will require their attentions. Maybe a rival lordling desires a water route or something.

[JPSTOD]

Not in that way..yet..
First priority..Kill or Run off the Undesirables that are currently residing there...Look for the True Ateperax's Lair (has it been Undiscovered..Has a New Dragon Taken Control, what if any treasures may lurk there.)

Second priority...Restore the Keep ruins and rebuild the City os Nazilli

Of Course word will get out that they Killed a Dragon. Who only knows what kind of attention they will get..After all the Society does have some enemies

I have the Maps for Nazilli Keep up on deviantart at http://jpstodwftexas.deviantart.com/

I am currently working on Battlemaps for the City Ruins.