I'm about to start a new arc for a game I've been running and I've written up some ideas for the first few encounters, but I'm a little stuck for ideas on how to bring the whole introduction to the arc to a head. Basically it's about pirates.
So far, the party will be attacked on their ship by various flying things. Following this, there will be some ship combat (trying out the rules in the Gamemastery guide). Then, once they (hopefully) fight their way to port, I've put together a sort of running encounter with lots of sporadic low level mooks in a burning city, with environment hazards. I'm going to try and gently lead them up to the fortified centre of town, it being the only place of safety, and should they follow the cues I'd like some kind of dramatic encounter to take place there.
The whole thing is a bit more set-piece than I'm used to, as I tend to have a more open GMing style,( with encounters written for events and locations rather than in succession like this) but it's meant to be an introduction to the new arc so they can follow my plot rails, dammit. :)
Anyway, I was hoping that some fresh minds could approach the subject. I've already used siege weapons (on the boat), hordes of easy kills, flying things, some quite badass individuals, and fire. Can anyone suggest something that might give the last encounter something unique, something that'll provide a good cap to the events that have already transpired?