Balabar Smenk

[Skull Head]

First time poster here, but an avid reader of posts. By the way, this thread has been an invaluable resource for the Age of Worms, the current campaign that I am running for my five players.

After the Wispering Cairn, the Pc's in the group insisted to have an audience with the Lord Mayor Neff. The Lord Mayor was at first bored with what the party had to say about the connections between Smenk, Filge, and the Dark Cathedral. The lead character made a great case that Smenk was a real menance who was endangering the citizens of Daggerford (Diamond Lake)-- the Paladin leader of the group rolled a natual 20 on his diplomacy check. Neff also saw the advantage of eliminating a powerful rival......

I ruled that the Lord Mayor decided to go after Smenk with his militia. Smenk decided to cut a deal with the mayor, and spilled the beans about the illicit activities of Dourstone and his mine. As a result of this exchange of valuable information, Smenk was forced to liquidate most of his assets and sell them at a very reduced rate to Neff, but was permitted to leave Daggerford in exile with some of his wealth. Smenk and his thugs, including Kullen, left with their tails in between their legs and went to Waterdeep (Free City).

The Pc's defeated the Ebon Triad and are now beginning the Encounter at Blackwall Keep. I am already anticipating the next adventure; I am trying to prepare some sort of encounter between Smenk, Kullen, and the Pc's when they arrive in Waterdeep (Free City) in the Hall of Harsh Reflections. I'm thinking that there is a stong possibility that the doppledangers might have killed Smenk for his betrayal of information on behalf on the Ebon Triad shortly after he arrived in Waterdeep. However, Smenk is a craftly, resourceful, lovable villian. Perhaps he did not die by the hands of the doppledangers. Perhaps he did, and his identity has been absorbed by a doppledanger who is commanding Kullen and his thugs to do his bidding.

There are so many options here. I'd greatly appreciate if the thoughtful, creative minds of people on these message boards could suggest which plot to use or recommend other possibilities.....

Thanks a great deal.

[Guy Humual]

Skull Head wrote:

There are so many options here. I'd greatly appreciate if the thoughtful, creative minds of people on these message boards could suggest which plot to use or recommend other possibilities.....

The free city is a big place for someone that knows its back allys and seedy underbelly. Smenk will undoubtedly escape the doppelgangers and return to cause problems for the players in the future! Kullen on the other hand will likely be lead astray. When the doppelgangers get word of the adventures they'll likely try to kill two birds with one stone: using Smenks thugs to kill the adventures. Smenk probably detects he's being followed and escapes to parts unknown while the doppelgangers are forced to use Kullen (by ordering him in the guise of Smenk) to attack the adventures. The false Smenk should escape as well.

This leaves Smenk as a wildcard in future adventures . . . he's got a grudge against the adventures . . . but now he wants revenge against these mysterious shape-shifters. Should the PCs be in a bind he may actually aide them to destroy the doppelgangers . . . if the PCs have routed the dastardly monsters then Smenk may lead a group of his old guard (Smenk’s old friends and colleagues in Grayhawk) when the PCs are at their weakest.

(Note: this could be a tough fight depending on how weak the PCs are but Smenk’s old friends shouldn’t be particularly loyal. They’ll probably abandon Smenk the moment the fight starts to turn. If you want this wave of Smenk’s friends might also be lead or contain doppelgangers!)

Those are my thoughts.

[Skull Head]

Great ideas! I like that Smenk escapes while Kullen and his thugs try to kill the Pc's under the orders of the false Smenk. Like that Guiness commerical says, "Brilliant!".

I like the idea of using Smenk to possible team up with the Pc's to fight the Doppledangers. Nothing makes a better villian than one that the party has to cooperate with.

Hey, I got a wild idea! What if the real Smenk is the Pc's sponsor for the gladiator games instead of Ekaym Smallcask? I'm sure Smenk has enough business savvy to acquire a licence on the black market. That would be crazy! Think about the deep role-playing opportunities with that scenario.

The only problem I can see is that, in this version, there is no need to include Ekaym Smallcask; consequently, Lahaka's dissappearance is no longer a viable sublplot. It's a nice subplot, but it does not carry the same emotional meaning as having to depend on Smenk as a sponsor. That would make the paladin squirm.... I'd love to see that!

So... Smenk or Smallcask as the sponsor of the gladiator games?

[Guy Humual]

Skull Head wrote:

Hey, I got a wild idea! What if the real Smenk is the Pc's sponsor for the gladiator games instead of Ekaym Smallcask? I'm sure Smenk has enough business savvy to acquire a licence on the black market. That would be crazy! Think about the deep role-playing opportunities with that scenario.

So... Smenk or Smallcask as the sponsor of the gladiator games?

That's another crazy plot twist! But to make it work (and most importantly, to make it believable) you have to ask yourself what's in it for Smenk? Smenk isn't likely to do anything out of the goodness of his heart.

Also, with Smallcask, we had more reason to explore under the arena. It would be best to keep this sub-plot.

There might be a way to keep both though . . . Smallcask meets the PCs but decides to pass because he's found (what he thinks) to be more promising fighters. Meanwhile Smenk wins his manager's license in a poker game and is now stuck for talent. Smenk hires the PCs for as cheap as he can get them . . . he may still have reasons for wanting to get into the arena as well. Now Smallcask's talent is taken out by the PCs and now desperately needs the help of the PCs (who are still in the competition) to find his sister.

[Tor Libram]

Hmm, a team's manager is able to bring in 1200 gp of healing every other day... If Smenk wanted to humiliate the people responsible for driving him out of Diamond Lake, all he has to do is lace the potions of healing with laxatives or some of the more interesting ingested poisons from the DMG.

[Guy Humual]

Tor Libram wrote:

Hmm, a team's manager is able to bring in 1200 gp of healing every other day... If Smenk wanted to humiliate the people responsible for driving him out of Diamond Lake, all he has to do is lace the potions of healing with laxatives or some of the more interesting ingested poisons from the DMG.

That reminds me, Balabar is still a wanted man . . . unless he somehow convinced the local authorities that the doppelgangers had impersonated him in Diamond lake! As for simple revenge . . . not a bad angle, but villains are so much more believable when they are motivated by more then just revenge. Humiliating the PCs should be just a side benefit.

[Skull Head]

Guy Humual Wrote:

That's another crazy plot twist! But to make it work (and most importantly, to make it believable) you have to ask yourself what's in it for Smenk? Smenk isn't likely to do anything out of the goodness of his heart.

Listen... Smenk would be motivated in killing the person (Loris Rakinan) who hired the doppledanggers who stole his identity. This would give the Pcs the reason to investigate Rakinan and the underground portions of the arena. Plus, as already noted, Smenk could make a small fortune wagering on the Pcs to win the championship.

What do you think?

[Guy Humual]

Skull Head wrote:

What do you think?

I do like that angle but let’s add a sub-plot were Smenk is attempting to fix the fights somehow. I think adding a dastardly scheme in with the revenge sounds more like the villain I’ve come to know and love.

Also, as not to cheat the PCs out of money, make sure Smallcask still pays the difference between the winnings and Smenk’s take. Smallcask did that in the unmodified adventure, best to leave that in the Smenk modified adventure.

[Skull Head]

Good suggestions... I think the Pcs will be stunned to see Balabar back again!

[Xuttah]

I actually let the assassination attempt of the Ebon Triad work. The players took too long in the dungeon and a bunch of TFO's minions (greenspawn sneaks IMC) murderlized him. That doesn't mean that he's out of the picture...oh no. Not in a campaign where undead are a central theme. I picture a very rotund favoured spawn of Kyuss shambling his way down the streets of Alhaster. >:D Kinda reminds me of that clown from Spawn. Only, y'know with worms...and he's the spawn, not Spawn...who was The Favoured Spawn...not a favoured spawn...and I think I'm having a Thog moment...So sleepy. :)