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Is there a point in the book when the PCs actually meet him (in human form) prior to the Ball?
What about the actual Lord Mayor?
I would like to have Lord V. make a positive impact on the PCs at some point prior to that simply be either being seen publicly at some point - perhaps at an inn or something.
Has anyone done this? what did you do and how did it go?
Players are genuinely skeptical of politicians in city-based games and I don't want suspicion automatically to arise towards Lord V. so I would like opportunities to use him as a friendly contact of the PCs before being actually involved in sending them off on missions.
Thanks
Robert
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Is there a point in the book when the PCs actually meet him (in human form) prior to the Ball?
What about the actual Lord Mayor?
I would like to have Lord V. make a positive impact on the PCs at some point prior to that simply be either being seen publicly at some point - perhaps at an inn or something.
Has anyone done this? what did you do and how did it go?
Players are genuinely skeptical of politicians in city-based games and I don't want suspicion automatically to arise towards Lord V. so I would like opportunities to use him as a friendly contact of the PCs before being actually involved in sending them off on missions.
Thanks
Robert
The first time the PCs can meet Vhalantru in humanoid form in the HC is during the Flood Festival; if a PC makes it up to the end of the drinking contest, they get to face off against him for the title.
I think introducing him earlier as a positive figure could definitely work. I'm still in the planning phase with my campaign, but one idea for you would be to set him off against another politician figure who comes off as more suspicious, possibly Lord Vanderboren or even Lady Rhiavadi. Personally, I'm going to introduce him first during the Flood Festival, but downplay him as a minor figure at that time, later giving more attention to his influence over the Lord Mayor.
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The first time the PCs can meet Vhalantru in humanoid form in the HC is during the Flood Festival; if a PC makes it up to the end of the drinking contest, they get to face off against him for the title.I think introducing him earlier as a positive figure could definitely work. I'm still in the planning phase with my campaign, but one idea for you would be to set him off against another politician figure who comes off as more suspicious, possibly Lord Vanderboren or even Lady Rhiavadi. Personally, I'm going to introduce him first during the Flood Festival, but downplay him as a minor figure at that time, later giving more attention to his influence over the Lord Mayor.
thanks for the input. Thats a idea for Lady Rhiavlaldi; using Lord Vanderboren would not work as one of the PCs is adopted younger brother of Todd; so making his "dad" the suspicious would not be good.
I'm of the opinion that PCs learning via Gather Info or otherwise that Lord V. 'bought' his way in to being a recent noble would raise major red flags in their suspicious bones; so that is the motivation behind introducing him early on as "just another civilian" as well as a lord.
I'm thining that after the PCs return from Jzadriune successfully during the downtime that the lord V. makes a "housecall" to Vanderboren manor to give his heartfelt thanks.
The six degrees of seperation being:
Vanderborens own the orphange. The children were kidnapped from the orphanage. One of the children (terem) is very important to Vhalantru. Vanderboren's younger (adopted) son is part of the group that saved the kids, thus aided in returning the prodigal orphan back to the the orphanage.
Lord V. visits the Vanderborens on a particular day to say thanks, but also 'spy' a little on the family that owns the orphanage that Terem is living at.
Nonetheless from the Vanderboren parents' perspective, they are beaming with pride now due to the son's heroics and that it has caught the attention of Lord V. Perhaps the lord offers a donation to do upkeep on the orphanage security/locks etc. thus ingratiating himself to them.
Of course this all to Todds complete chagrin....
Robert
Robert
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thanks for the input. Thats a idea for Lady Rhiavlaldi; using Lord Vanderboren would not work as one of the PCs is adopted younger brother of Todd; so making his "dad" the suspicious would not be good.
I'm of the opinion that PCs learning via Gather Info or otherwise that Lord V. 'bought' his way in to being a recent noble would raise major red flags in their suspicious bones; so that is the motivation behind introducing him early on as "just another civilian" as well as a lord.
I'm thining that after the PCs return from Jzadriune successfully during the downtime that the lord V. makes a "housecall" to Vanderboren manor to give his heartfelt thanks.
The six degrees of seperation being:
Vanderborens own the orphange. The children were kidnapped from the orphanage. One of the children (terem) is very important to Vhalantru. Vanderboren's younger (adopted) son is part of the group that saved the kids, thus aided in returning the prodigal orphan back to the the orphanage.
Lord V. visits the Vanderborens on a particular day to say thanks, but also 'spy' a little on the family that owns the orphanage that Terem is living at.
Nonetheless from the Vanderboren parents' perspective, they are beaming with pride now due to the son's heroics and that it has caught the attention of Lord V....
That could definitely work. I'm explaining Vhalantru's presence not as someone who came along and bought a title, but as a "satellite nobleman" - someone belonging to a noble family from another city who came to Cauldron to start his own branch of the family and make a name for himself as an individual. If the PCs look into it, they can find that the Vhalantru name checks out as legitimate, though this Lord V. has been out of touch for quite some time, ever since he left Sasserine.
Sound like you have all the ideas you need.
In my campaign I had Lord Vhanathru bail out the party after thir 'scuffle' with the Stormblades during the Festival. A group of knomes had set up a pantamime celebrating the party heroic in rescuing the kidnapped children and killing Drakthar. The Stormblades too offence to the praise heaped upon the party and title of 'Cauldrons Heros' and sort to dicredit them.
The party and Stormblades traded insults and eventually they began to engage in non lethal combat. eventually the gaurd arrived and arrested both.
Vhalantru had an agent bail the party out and summoned them to meet him at their earliest convenience at the town hall. I passed him off as a comical figure, half drunk and offering the party beverages, fruits and cheeses to make them comfortable infront of the fire.
He then set about heaping praise upon the party and awarding them with money for their recent successes against the kidnappers and Drakthar. I also had him show open dislike for the nobles children -the Stormblades, but warn the party of their parents influence and the problems they could cause the party if they harmed their children.
Siding with the party, giving helpful advice, rewarding them for their successes plus appearing comical and harmless immediately warmed the party to Vhalantru and now they often visit him for advice, particularly pertaining to the government.
Vhalantru has twisted their opinion of the Lord Mayor - is really responsible for the increased taxes. Vhalantru is in charge of the treasury but he 'knows' that none of the collected funds are making it to the city coffers.
Lord Taskerhill - real power behind the government and who seeks to control the city any way he can..
Teresong - has urged the Lord Mayor to increase the taxes to pay for the Half-orc mercanies. He and Lord Taskerhill are openly allied.
All of this is fabrication of course but contains enough truth to make the party suspicious of all three. Vhalantru never appears angry or powerful but more like a helpless pawn.
I'm looking forward to when the Lord Mayor goes missing and Vhalantru tells the party that the council is holding elections to vote in the new Mayor but only Taskerhill and Teresong have nominated. He fears the city will slide into anachy if either is elected.
Then I'm hoping someone suggests nominated him. He will be reluctant at first and then breudgingly agree.
When he is elected Mayor the party maybe thrilled at first but when the truth of Vhalantru begins to dawn on them it will make the discovery all the more shocking.
Of course if no-one takes the bait Vhalantru will still become Mayor which will stur up the parties suspicions. So either way this serio should work beautifully!
Delvesdeep
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That is great! Shades of Palpatine manipulating Padme into getting him elected Chancellor. If I were you, I might try to let the party know that the election is going on and that the candidates are bad some other way, to avoid too close of a parallel. That definitely sounds like you've got quite a great reveal coming, though!
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That is great! Shades of Palpatine manipulating Padme into getting him elected Chancellor. If I were you, I might try to let the party know that the election is going on and that the candidates are bad some other way, to avoid too close of a parallel. That definitely sounds like you've got quite a great reveal coming, though!
YES! and please let us know when the veil is lifted and their hearts sink! We must enjoy this oh so wicked triumph vicariously through your DMing skills....
Robert
V likes to keep his eye on adventurers. During Life's Bizaar, my party turned the locksmith over to the authorties. V heard about this and called the PCs in to thanks (meet) them.
More info: For my campaign, I decided that the death sentence was to be chained and thrown in the lake in a public ceremony. So the locksmith was sentenced to death for his crimes. So V meet with the players and had them come to the ceremony. There the mayor gave a speech about the great (undescribed) evil the city faces and that the locksmith was an example of that. V then gave a speech about the city now being defenseless against this evil and introduced the PCs to the city as heroes.
So right off the bat, the PCs meet the mayor and V; are introdcued to the town to that townspeople can react to them; and become rivals with the Stormblades.
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V likes to keep his eye on adventurers. During Life's Bizaar, my party turned the locksmith over to the authorties. V heard about this and called the PCs in to thanks (meet) them.
More info: For my campaign, I decided that the death sentence was to be chained and thrown in the lake in a public ceremony. So the locksmith was sentenced to death for his crimes. So V meet with the players and had them come to the ceremony. There the mayor gave a speech about the great (undescribed) evil the city faces and that the locksmith was an example of that. V then gave a speech about the city now being defenseless against this evil and introduced the PCs to the city as heroes.
So right off the bat, the PCs meet the mayor and V; are introdcued to the town to that townspeople can react to them; and become rivals with the Stormblades.
I vaguely remember the Trial, Todd. I do remember the stormblades always tormenting us with "Jander's Jongeliers" comments. I always got a chuckle when they called us that.
Thanks for the info,
Robert
I would like to have Lord V. make a positive impact on the PCs at some point prior to that simply be either being seen publicly at some point - perhaps at an inn or something.
Has anyone done this? what did you do and how did it go?
Thanks
Robert
Just go there (see my last post at the # 21 of the thread) to see one possible way to deal with your question very early in the SCAP.
Be Creative