I sorta feel like a bad DM after last session, and if I stick with my plans, the feeling's not going to go away. OK, here is what I did...
The characters discovers the empty graves, and are looking for rumors inside Daggerford/Diamond Lake. They have found the severed arm and made the connection to Balabar Smenk. I also told them (or they discovered it by Knowledge local checks), that the employees with the brand are a vicious gang led by Kullen. Still, while the paladins and clerics of Tyr (yes, I have a grand total of 3 of them) goes off to the garrison to talk to Duun about the young owlbear, the bard goes to the Feral Dog to Gather Information. He misses the check badly, and I rule that someone has tipped off Kullen. As the bard is about to leave, he is stopped by the half-orc who is rather angry. The bard tries a diplomacy checks, but fails miserably. Kullen attacks with fists, but misses. The bard draws his magical short sword and manages to injure Kullen. Now, one of Kullen's mates tries to grapple him. The bard tries to hit him with subdual damage, and hits him as well. The luck runs out now, and as the bard tries to flee, a third of Kullen's allies blocks the tavern door. Kullen barges into the bard from behind, knocking him senseless.
When the rest of the party comes to the Vein, they see a crowd tugging at something. Investigating, they see all sorts of people fighting over the bard's shoes and breeches. While they talk to the bard about what happened, Kullen and his gang are dividing his gear inside the Feral Dog, even playing his bagpipes! As they have sort of befriended Tirra, they manage to persuade her to get him his bagpipes. She warns them about doing something, as they will probably get their asses kicked.
Still, they enter the Feral Dog, and the Tyr Squad politely asks for his gear back. The PC paladin (the other is an NPC) even heals Kullen's wounds as a gesture. As the paladin talks to Kullen, the cleric contradicts him, and the whole thing goes awry as the paladin and cleric to Tyr starts arguing. Anyway, to cut a long story short, Kullen gives them the option between the gear back, or information about the corpses. They choose the latter (much to the bard's dismay).
Now, the bard has 0 equipment (except for his bagpipes), and zero money as well. I plan on giving them the choice of the owlbear for the gear.. but I think they'll refuse.
If this was not enough, I have been thinking that Kullen and his gang should ambush the characters as they leave Filge's tower. After all, he is an evil individual who would take advantage of such a situation. He gets rid of Filge (who he despise), and he eliminates the threat of Smenk knowing about his treachery. After exploring the tower, my guess is that the PC's is in no condition to fight Kullen's band.
I am doing this to imprint in my players that even though they are a bunch of do-gooders, this is a crooked town, and that they should not trust anyone.
Am I a bad (as in, evil or vicious) DM for doing this? I just think that's what Kullen would have done, and I absolutely (for some peculiar reason) love that NPC. If they are really helpless after fighting Filge, I may have the Free City trio come and help them for some obscure reason I have yet to come up with (the bard and the rogue owes Khellek money from putting their bar tabs on him). Kullen will part with a clear message to the PC's.. "One day you will not be protected.." cause I can envision him being a major enemy in the years ahead.
Well.. enough ranting.. any thoughts?
Well, your players did choose to split up, which usually doesn't work out very well, especially if its a lone low-level bard...! An 'i'll teach you a lesson' DM might have had Kullen rage at first chance, especially if the Dip checks were as bad as you said they were (i.e. going from unfriendly to hostile). How you played the NPC's was WELL within the limits of 'reasonableness', so i wouldn't fret any further. Anyways, how much gear can a 2nd/3rd level bard have? Lesson learned, no harm, no foul (aka Chick Hearn :) ) Its coincidental that the bard in your campaign failed his Dip checks twice...mine did the same, but actually perpetuated a lot more violence as he got the idea to disguise himself as Filge...caused a messy, messy barfight, indeed! Good fun though. Peace to you
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I think you handled the situation really well. Losing all his equipment will be a defining experience for the bard and the party as a whole. I'm sure it won't take him long to get some equipment back. The skeletons in the first room of the observatory have some weapons, and he could always borrow a secondary weapon from another character.
As for Kullen, I don't think I would have him ambush the characters. If you need to justify not having him ambush, consider how much work it would take for Kullen to wait for the party to leave the observatory after fighting Filch. He doesn't know when they're going to go, how long their going to stay, or whether or not they'll even survive. Sure, he could go spend his day camping out and watching the observatory, or he could be running other errands for Smenk and making his living.
In the battle between lazy and evil, lazy wins every time.
Sebastian
The whole situation with Balabar's gang is a tricky one. I'm having "bad DM" fears myself (check out my post: DM Questions about AoW) so I tend to sympathise and would say you're handling the situation well. Its definately awkward pursueing a weak clue (a tatoo) and approaching an intimidating NPC like Kullen to ask if he's had anything to do with a recent grave robbing.
You don't want to hand your PC's the lead to Filge (and the location of the Land Family's bones) on a silver platter so its reasonable to make them work for it; but, there's so much about the situation that could escalate into serious bodily harm to the PC's.
Well played.
The only problem you have is that you like Kullen too much. You should never let any sort of emotion (good or bad) interfere with your DMing, and if you can't be impartial you should err on the side of helping the PCs.
The whole situation with the bard and the resulting mess that happened at the tavern seems like a combination of bad dice rolls and the players decisions. It has nothing to do with your skills as a DM (from what you have told us).
Kullen and his gang could indeed ambush the PCs. The laziness argument is a facetious one, since there are many evil creatures with infinite patience, or at least enough patience to plan an ambush and wait for an hour or two. Kullen has to weigh up whether such an endeavour is worthwhile. Perhaps he feels some gratitude towards the PCs, is afraid of what questions the PCs deaths might drum up, or is just a coward at heart who would prefer to attack the PCs when they are separated. I can't remember what Kullen is like, but perhaps some of these ideas have some merit.
If Kullen ambushes the PCs its the perfect time to introduce a helpful NPC like Allustan. Perhaps the wizard, or one of the other rare good-aligned NPCs is in the vicinity when Kullen attacks, and their presence drives the gang off. If this seems a bit contrived give the PCs a chance to run away, or otherwise escape the ambush. What you shouldn't do is massacre the PCs after a hard fought victory. Now that's bad DMing.
Kullen ambushing the party after a visit to Filge's Tower was exactly how I ran it..since the party had the 3rd Lvl Paladin with them..Filge was a prisoner but sided with the PC's as Kullen attacked..Filge realized what Kullen's intent was.
It wasn't hard to as I had Kullen gloat before he attacked.
Wow! Nice situation they got into, I dream of my guys havin to think like that! Anyway, you handled it very well and an ambush might be a good idea. You may be able to nudge the pcs to ambushing first for avengiance. Keep doin what your doin, its working. Happy DMing.
Thanks for the feedback. I think I will have Kullen ambush them if they fare easily in the tower. Maybe Filge will side with them as well. If they are exhausted after taking on Filge, I will have the Free Trio or maybe Valkus Duun come for the rescue. In this case, there will be no battle, but the emnity between Kullen's gang and the pc's will only increase.
Thanks for the feedback. I think I will have Kullen ambush them if they fare easily in the tower. Maybe Filge will side with them as well. If they are exhausted after taking on Filge, I will have the Free Trio or maybe Valkus Duun come for the rescue. In this case, there will be no battle, but the emnity between Kullen's gang and the pc's will only increase.
Well, it seems like you have come to a sensible decision. Most of the good DMs know when to wing it, and make sure they have a few back up plans if things go astray (they also know how to create drama and conflict).
Let us know how it all turns out :-)
Let us know how it all turns out :-)
Well, they were so beat after fighting Filge (3 PCs with negative hit points), so I actually skipped the whole thing :/
Instead, they healed up and went to get their asses kicked by the Wind Warriors.. 3 pcs in negative (one died).. damn..
Actually, another idea would be for Kullen to find out where the pcs live or are staying, and ambush them there! I have a group that, upon hearing that Kullen's gang had info they needed, decided to track down where the gang lived, broke into their house, and tried to assassinate them... but failed miserably and managed to wind up in the Diamond Lake's jail! So, while the party's in there, Kullen is going to return the favor, and burn down the shop of one of the pcs. After that, assuming they manage to get the info about Filge from the two gang members who joined them in jail, Kullen will ambush them outside the observatory to teach them a lesson.
Squid
Actually, another idea would be for Kullen to find out where the pcs live or are staying, and ambush them there! I have a group that, upon hearing that Kullen's gang had info they needed, decided to track down where the gang lived, broke into their house, and tried to assassinate them... but failed miserably and managed to wind up in the Diamond Lake's jail! So, while the party's in there, Kullen is going to return the favor, and burn down the shop of one of the pcs. After that, assuming they manage to get the info about Filge from the two gang members who joined them in jail, Kullen will ambush them outside the observatory to teach them a lesson.
Squid
I agree with Squid. If the PCs boff their gather information checks, or goof an attack on Kullen and his gang, then Kullen will definately come looking for the PCs. Catching them in their "Safe House" is probably a good bet. I'd also think that Flige may also be more on alert for the PCs arrival.
ASEO out