I've got some questions about the law in Greyhawk, and Diamond
Lake. Two of my five PCs have been caught in the commision of
a few crimes with numerous witnesses around. So I'm wondering
of what crimes they should be accused, and if I seem to have
missed anything. I'm currently using the legal code from
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins.
So the episode starts with the party rogue in the Feral Dog
learning that Kullen's gang are the likely culprits in a recent
grave robbery. He starts to go over to question Kullen when a
voice in his head (the other players) suggests he should get
the rest of his party before proceeding.
Fully gathered, the party's fighter strides up to the
bartender, points at him and says, "Watch what's about to
happen." (Later the bartender will recall "Red", the fighter,
ordering, and slamming back, a shot of whiskey.)
"Red" walks over to wear Kullen is seated and speaks loudly,
"Hey, the Land family wants to know what happened to its
graves!"
Kullen, and the rest of his party rises, Kullen exclaiming,
"What?"
Now, seeing a potentially explosive situation, I decide
initiative is in order, so I know who does what when. This
might have inadvertantly caused our least experienced player to
assume we'd entered combat.
Kullen's mage friend acts first. Sensing the hostility, but
not wanting to attack first he elects to cast Mage Armor on
himself. Then Decum goes, immediately drawing his bastard
sword and attacking Kullen's ranger friend.
Now combat was joined in earnest. Things were fairly even
until Kullen's mage friend successfully Color Sprayed Decum,
the party's barbarian. The fight seemed to be turning sour
when the party's cleric elected to cut and run, quickly
followed by the rogue. The mage made for the front door,
while "Red" attempted to drag Decum away. Kullen, almost
casually, stepped over to "Red" and knocked him out.
I figured the constables would be showing up by now, being just
across the square. Kullen's crew grabbed the obvious loot off
the two unconscious PCs, and the constables threw the PCs in
jail.
I'm figuring that assault, disturbing the peace, and some
destruction of property charge (a table was busted by the
cleric) are all appropriate, but i'm wondering if I'm missing
something, and should attempted murder be among the charges.
This last one would have potentially very rough reppurcusions.
Oh, insult to injury, Kullen is now in possesion of all seven
lamps.
I've got some questions about the law in Greyhawk, and Diamond
Lake. Two of my five PCs have been caught in the commision of
a few crimes with numerous witnesses around. So I'm wondering
of what crimes they should be accused, and if I seem to have
missed anything. I'm currently using the legal code from
Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins.
So the episode starts with the party rogue in the Feral Dog
learning that Kullen's gang are the likely culprits in a recent
grave robbery. He starts to go over to question Kullen when a
voice in his head (the other players) suggests he should get
the rest of his party before proceeding.
Fully gathered, the party's fighter strides up to the
bartender, points at him and says, "Watch what's about to
happen." (Later the bartender will recall "Red", the fighter,
ordering, and slamming back, a shot of whiskey.)
"Red" walks over to wear Kullen is seated and speaks loudly,
"Hey, the Land family wants to know what happened to its
graves!"
Kullen, and the rest of his party rises, Kullen exclaiming,
"What?"
Now, seeing a potentially explosive situation, I decide
initiative is in order, so I know who does what when. This
might have inadvertantly caused our least experienced player to
assume we'd entered combat.
Kullen's mage friend acts first. Sensing the hostility, but
not wanting to attack first he elects to cast Mage Armor on
himself. Then Decum goes, immediately drawing his bastard
sword and attacking Kullen's ranger friend.
Now combat was joined in earnest. Things were fairly even
until Kullen's mage friend successfully Color Sprayed Decum,
the party's barbarian. The fight seemed to be turning sour
when the party's cleric elected to cut and run, quickly
followed by the rogue. The mage made for the front door,
while "Red" attempted to drag Decum away. Kullen, almost
casually, stepped over to "Red" and knocked him out.I figured the constables would be showing up by now, being just
across the square....
I would say you have it about right. They could probably get out of it with some bribes since the sheriff isn't the most trustworthy person to begin with. Otherwise it's probably time served and some fines.
I got loucky, since my group got the info from Kullen and crew using ale, Detect thoughts and a fast atlking halfling rogue. It never came to blows.
My group is made up of a bunch of anti-heroes, so I'm expecting more than a 'soupcon' of trouble with the law myself. :)
Could someone tell me where I could find these Greyhawk laws to use in my AP? Is it available as a download?
Are you allowed to post them?
My group is made up of a bunch of anti-heroes, so I'm expecting more than a 'soupcon' of trouble with the law myself. :)
Could someone tell me where I could find these Greyhawk laws to use in my AP? Is it available as a download?
Are you allowed to post them?
The legal code I'm using is from the 2nd Edition book Greyhawk:
The Adventure Begins. It is virtually identical to the code inthe World of Greyhawk boxed set (I think) from 1st Edition.
I believe these products can be purchases for download, but I
can't post them as they are protected by copywrite. The
Greyhawk site Cannonfire might have some form of a legal code.
The legal code you're thinking of, Van, is in the City of Greyhawk boxed set.
Use the arrest to work in some role-playing, introduce some new characters, & show the players that actions have consequences (and to make them squirm a bit, too).
My PCs also got arrested. What happened was they confronted Kullen & co & had a showdown outside the Feral Dog. The only player that remembered they had to get info from Kullen was the mage, & he got knocked out early in the fight, so his player couldn't say anything when his fellows decided to coup-de-grace Kullen & the boys.
Jamis witnessed this event, but the PCs paid him off. They ended up getting the info from Kullen via a scroll of Speak with Dead they bought from Jierian Wierus (the Lands were his parishoners years ago).
Anyway, they ended up turning Filge in to the garrison, & when the sheriff came to pick him up for transfer, he also brought along Gorvic (bartender from the Feral Dog, who witnessed the fight w/ Kullen), & Natalo Bask (dealer at the Emporium, & Merovionn's brother). Gorvic fingered the PCs in the murders of Bask, Kullen, & the other two. The group was arrested & transported, with Filge, to the jail, who they also shared a cell with.
The group was bailed out & received a message to meet their benefactor for dinner at the Hungry Gar. Of course, this was Balabar Smenk, who made a deal with the party--take care of the cult & keep his involvement silent & he'll get the murder charges dropped. To ensure his wishes were followed, Smenk sent Filge along, who he also bailed out & whom the party loathes.
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The group was bailed out & received a message to meet their benefactor for dinner at the Hungry Gar. Of course, this was Balabar Smenk, who made a deal with the party--take care of the cult & keep his involvement silent & he'll get the murder charges dropped. To ensure his wishes were followed, Smenk sent Filge along, who he also bailed out & whom the party loathes.
Nice set-up. Three Faces of Evil should be full of roleplaying and tension. Let us know how it resolves out, especially with Smenk and Dourstone in regards to the "law".
My party is overpowered and the fighter is more than willing to prove it. They massacred Kullen and his band (the ranger survived only because he was unconscious). They also killed Filge, but only Smenk knows. I had them arrested and detained but released shortly thereafter with the all too cliched "don't leave town" warning from the sheriff. In the end, conflicting accounts pegged both the group's fighter and Kullen as the aggressor. Add to that Kullen's reputation around town and I basically gave them a "pass". The ranger from Kullen's band was patched up and held in another one of the cells (where the group eventually got the info on Filge) before he, too was released.
What the party doesn't know, though, is where we DMs get to have fun.
#1. The party didn't originally have a healer, so they went to the garrison for healing because one of the characters is the son of a former garrison officer who served with the old priest (can't think of his name). Because of the "scandal" they are no longer welcome there.
#2. Smenk had the ranger executed after orchestrating his release (he feared that perhaps he had spilled his guts in the holding cell). This murder will also be laid at the characters' feet (officially, the sheriff, deputies and everybody else will claim that he was killed at the Feral Dog).
This gives Smenk some added weight to lean on the party with to move them on to the "Three Faces of Evil", shows them how powerful he is (because he can make the charges against them disappear) and (if any of them make the connection to the ranger's murder) how dangerous he can be.
This will also impact their ability to go after Smenk after "Three Faces" and makes it easier to usher them out of town.
I initially didn't want it to get in the way of the game, but I'm starting to see that I'll have to reign these guys in (especially before Blackwall Keep) because at least one of them wanted to take on the sheriff and his men after the battle at the Feral Dog.
Basically, it still has the potential to be a disastrous turn of events, but it gives me a nice cudgel to beat them with when I need to.
i dont think it would be illegal for us to post the laws up since they are for "personal use" but i would need an judge for that ruling.
still isnt not like one is trying to make money off of it.. *shrugs*
bribery, diplomacy, and maybe the willingness to be an outlaw might happen for your characters.. maybe a little help from one of the Uncorrupt sergeants giving them a little running time.. or time to sort out their problems before the sheriff hears.
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The group was bailed out & received a message to meet their benefactor for dinner at the Hungry Gar. Of course, this was Balabar Smenk, who made a deal with the party--take care of the cult & keep his involvement silent & he'll get the murder charges dropped. To ensure his wishes were followed, Smenk sent Filge along, who he also bailed out & whom the party loathes.
Nice idea. My PCs got info from Kullen with a charm person and some horrible spot/listen rolls from his gang (thus failing to see the wizard in the corner speaking and gesticulating). However, they barged into the observatory and killed Filge outright. They've been gone for a few days since, finishing up the Whispering Cairn. I was thinking of having Kullen meet up with them upon their return and taking them to Smenk, who basically offers the same deal. But now I'm thinking of having them arrested first. Has anyone mapped out the sheriff's office?
BTW, they actually have Filge's eyes for Kullen! Oh, and the party's crone of a druid plans to burn down the Feral Dog because she is disgusted with the dog fights. :)
i dont think it would be illegal for us to post the laws up since they are for "personal use" but i would need an judge for that ruling.
For what it's worth, you can buy a PDF version of Greyhawk: The Adventure Begins from RPGNow.com for about $5. I don't remember if the legal codes are in there (I think so, but I can't guarantee it), but at any rate I think it's worth the purchase to just flesh out Greyhawk (I was always more into FR or DragonLance when I started - This is my first game in Greyhawk).