I have noticed that some people had a hard time with Lavinia, my party was no different.It was mainly that they felt very put out, by arriving to a meeting with someone who was having a meeting with someone else, it made them feel very expendable by Lavinia, and the snide manner in which the Jade Raven's dealt with them didn't make it any better. The fact that she didn't pay them much, didn't tell them the whole truth, really did put them off.
I did not play Lavinia to be cruel or underhanded, but she comes off as haugty not so much as grieving in the first part of the adventure. So I was concerned with that. It was no surprise to me that when they encountered Rowena, that her conversation with them, went much better, and they thought her open manner about things were a better idea, it was never about the gold or fame for my group, but they hate being disrespected, there very likely to take on any adventure asked of them, from the kindness of there hearts, because they are like that.
Rowena's deal seemed fair to them and much better, they decided to work for her, but at the same time, bear no ill will towards Lavina, in fact they returned the money she gave them. They have dedicated themselves to rebuilding the Lotus's.
I was curious if this has occured in anyone elses game ?
You mean Rowyn? My party was the opposite; they liked Lavinia right off and felt sorry for her, and they tried to kill Rowyn pretty much without a second thought. They're very anxious now that something spoilery happened to Lavinia!
-Amber S.
You mean Rowyn? My party was the opposite; they liked Lavinia right off and felt sorry for her, and they tried to kill Rowyn pretty much without a second thought. They're very anxious now that something spoilery happened to Lavinia!
-Amber S.
Ah, yeah I called her Rowena instead, gah! I can not edit my post either---ah well. Really. I was surprised mine didn't agree to immediately work for Lavinia.
Apparently something about her rubbed them the wrong way.
I almost had the same problem. The rogue was very adament about joining a theives guild but also has a very twisted sense of honor and wanted to deliver Vanthus before defecting to Rowyn.
But, when he had the cleric turn him invisible so he could get the drop on Rowyn and therefore 'have the upper hand in negotiations', she still managed to talk him down and thereby remove the blade he had held to her throat. The bard/mouthpeice demanded Vanthus, she charmed the rogue, and it all went to hell from there.
On the flipside, the halfling druid/chef adores Kora (who Drevoraz shanked one round before the party came to their rescue. That's a whole other, funnier story)and his buddy the ranger has a little crush on Lavinia by that time. Poor rogue now haaaaates Rowyn.
My group likes Lavinia, and the bard/paladin of freedom is romantically interested in here. The only time any of them came close to joining Rowyn was when she charmed the rogue/swashbuckler, so that really doesn't count. They even returned Lavinia's money without too much fuss.
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In my game, Lavinia's biggest problem is her rapidly diminishing naivete. She's not even 20 in my game, and the characters have started to treat her like the younger sister. They've already figured that Vanthus is taking advantage of her and are figuring out how to confirm their suspicions and break the news to her.
They've just been trapped under Parrot Island, so they now offically hate Vanthus. I think when they meet up with Rowyn, they're going to go right after her for her association with Vanthus. I'll try to work the businesswoman approach as others have suggested on these boards, but this party is probably not going to go for it.
One thing I'm going to do is tinker with Lavinia's stat array a bit. The so-called elite array works for mooks like the Jade Ravens, but a long term patron and possible love interest should have a better Wisdom score to stay respected. I'll also bump up her CR a bit by giving her some extra gear to reflect her noble status (yes, she's struggling, but who knows what resources she "keeps in reserve".
Also, play the introduction with her the way you want. No one knows your party better than you do, so tailor the encounter to them. Use flattery when it works and have her appeal to each character's strengths individually. You want her to form a connection to them.
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so far my party I think likes Lavinia (I just had the dinner), one guy who's background is he worked for the Vanderborens & was present the night of the explosion (got burned himself) & it sounds like he'll do the first job for free. Anther one (guy is playin himself like Jack Sparrow but without the wild eyed antics), was overcome with her beuty & such & wants to crack some heads for her. Anther one who is druid of Procan, wants vengeances for the Vark & his men breakin a deal that was on the waters.
Other members as well, some really don't even want the payment, enough to help them gear up for the encounter or a bed for the night really. The only person in my group that even mentioned maybe we could milk her for more was a wild elf ranger (which I thought was kinda odd, ha ha)
been tryin to play up Lavinia as a noble but kinda of down to earth noble, so hopefully my players see that. Espically when later in the adventure where she gains the swashbuckler levels & such, showing that she wants to do something other then noble stuff
RM
