Lonjiku and Tsuto are now both dead in the game, and Ameiko has been rescued and poised to overtake the manor and the Glassworks. I was planning on having the Sczarni try to exploit what they see as a new opportunity with the isolated and vulnerable heiress. There might also be some involvement from the Scarnetti's eager to expand their influence in the city and region (perhaps first offering to buy out the Glassworks and then using the Sczarni if Ameiko refuses).
I was planning on starting this scenario as soon as the PC's finish Thistletop.
Are there any such plans with Ameiko in subsequent Pathfinders that my idea would inadvertently conflict with?
*edit* Oh, and if then the PC's are invited to tangle with the Sczarni, how powerful would they be, how conceivable would it be for the PC's to "break" the local Sczarni? I am anticipating that it might seem easy at first, but that the Sczarni can call upon the big guns in retaliation.
This sounds very interesting. I'm trying to envision the adventure. What type of scenario are you thinking of? How do you see it playing out?
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I've got a proto-adventure path in mind that revolves fairly heavilly around Ameiko, but that path assumes only that she survives long enough to play a role in an adventure path at some point in the future. Having Sczarni problems is a logical and interesting thing that can develop from recent events, and setting it up so the PCs need to help her out in dealing with them is pretty cool.
The thing about the Sczarni is that, even if the PCs defeat the Sandpoint Sczarni (who can be as tough as you want, but keep in mind that the leader of this group is a 7th level rogue), that's just one familiy. There's countless other groups of Sczarni scattered throguhout Varisia, many of whom would doubtless seek revenge against the PCs when they found out what they did to the Sandpoint family.
This sounds very interesting. I'm trying to envision the adventure. What type of scenario are you thinking of? How do you see it playing out?
Angle 1: Scarnetti's have an agenda of political, economical, and social scope. My money is they're behind the arson that left one working mill. Although prices had been reduced, it's still a monopoly. They have aims for more than just the Glassworks. The Two Knight Brewery has also been weakened with the death of Wade, but the Kaijitsu's have presented themselves with a more alluring treasure that would require immediate action. Taking over the Glassworks would help push the Scarnetti's into a more strategic hold over Sandpoint. They need to be cautious since they have an unpleasant history with the native Varisians, and most had spread rumors about their possible involvements of arson.
In an uncanny display of assistance, the Scarnetti's offer to alleviate the burden of running the Glassworks for Ameiko so she can focus on the Rusty Dragon. They'll be the first to clean up the blood and the mess, finance repairs, and staff the Glassworks.Angle 2: Ameiko is no fool, but she accepts the offer with a wary eye. If the Scarnetti's gain complete control of the Glassworks, an alliance with the Sczarni once again utilizes the underground tunnels in a flood of shady deals and illegal merchandizing. If Ameiko remains wary but silent, nothing happens.
Angle 3: Ameiko flatly refuses. In this case, the Scarnetti's use the Sczarni to "change her mind." The Sczarni threaten Bethana, they post sabateurs to work for the Glassworks and/ or the Rusty Dragon, or perhaps another arson set at the Kaijitsu manor.
Angle 4: An ugly side to politics: Mayor Deverin doesn't like the Scarnetti's or the Sczarni, but their use of the tunnels beneath the Glassworks do help boost the economy, and she does all she can to subtly assist them to take over the Glassworks. The Mayor doesn't want the Scarnetti's themselves to hold too much influence in Sandpoint, so she tries to work a deal with the Sczarni to play against both the Kaijitsu's and the Scarnetti's. In this scenario, the Sczarni face a possible win-win scenario as they stand to profit from the opened tunnels but can threaten both the Scarnetti's and the Mayor through blackmail to put them both in their pocket. Only Sheriff Hemlock would pose a threat and may be the only other ally of Ameiko and the PC's.
With the PC's help, they may save the life of Bethana and Sheriff Hemlock.
1) If the "local" Sczarni are successfully beaten, the PC's will need to worry about reprisals against those with whom they associate with (in my case it will be Ameiko, Daverin of the Stables, Father Zanthus, Bethana, and Hannah). I think this depends on how much the Sczarni wish to make an example of the PC's and if they "can" make an example of them. If they have greater resources to pull from Magnimar, it seems likely.
2) The PC's pull off the impossible and grease those deals to make the Sczarni, Ameiko, the Mayor, and the Scarnetti's happy (for now). Perhaps this scenario unfortunately alienates the Sheriff big time.
3) The PC's manage to not get rid of the Sczarni, per se, but they do manage to find a way to blackmail or otherwise cripple the Scarnetti from their ambitions, which does help strengthen the Mayor's position nonetheless and retains their "hero" status.
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I was assuming that the glass industry in Sandpoint after the events described in the adventure would be kaput. With the family patriarch and his heir dead, and most of the workers killed by Tsuto's band of goblins, who's left to practice the craft?
My thought was that Ameiko would probably not be the one to do this since she'd been estranged from her father for so long and had essentially made a career for herself already with the Inn. We're only just about to start things off, but I was planning to have the glassworks abandoned and possibly razed in the aftermath of the goblin raid.
Are there connections later in the path that assume that Ameiko takes up the family trade?
I was assuming that the glass industry in Sandpoint after the events described in the adventure would be kaput. With the family patriarch and his heir dead, and most of the workers killed by Tsuto's band of goblins, who's left to practice the craft?
My thought was that Ameiko would probably not be the one to do this since she'd been estranged from her father for so long and had essentially made a career for herself already with the Inn. We're only just about to start things off, but I was planning to have the glassworks abandoned and possibly razed in the aftermath of the goblin raid.
Are there connections later in the path that assume that Ameiko takes up the family trade?
I considered this as well: that Ameiko could care less about her heritage, and that the Glassworks shuts down. However, I was thinking about the following points:
1) I wanted to introduce the PC's to the Sczarni, big time.
2) Ameiko may feel honor bound to continue the legacy, but may be forced to teach her skills to others. I sensed that since her thoughts are hidden, that a DM could try the dubious task of interpreting her motives as a great plot device such as what I envisioned.
3) My player managed to do very well in using subdual damage to take Tsuto alive, and their subsequent dealings with her have managed to really get on her good side. I wanted to capitolize on that and really get my PC's to shine in this endeavor.
4) The Sczarni have an interest in doing something to keep the tunnels active, and "some" sort of legitimate front would help obfiscate this much better than a burnt hole in the ground. It would be much harder for the Sheriff to bust some *** against a legitimate business.
5) Perhaps, if the Sczarni helped the Scarnetti before with the Arsons, then perhaps they are the puppet masters to get the Scarnetti to take over the Glassworks, or otherwise erect some other form of business on top of the tunnel.
*edit* So, I can see how the "Glassworks" may fall into ruin, but I do see something taking its place, particularly in such prime real estate of teensy-tiny little Sandpoint.
Lonjiku and Tsuto are now both dead in the game, and Ameiko has been rescued and poised to overtake the manor and the Glassworks. I was planning on having the Sczarni try to exploit what they see as a new opportunity with the isolated and vulnerable heiress.
We know that there were ties between Lonjiku and the Sczarni. Do we know of any documented ties between the Sczari and the Scarnettis? The names are similar enough that I've confused them more than once when reading quickly, and without a thorough reread I'm not sure what's definitely known about their relationship.
I've already confused Mayor "Deverin" with "Daverin" Hosk, and I had the same initial reaction when I lustfully engorged myself with the first read of the pdf files.
I had two thoughts: 1) There are, indeed, ties. Perhaps the ties even involve arranged marriages between the two. (But I'd think this regardless of the similarity of the names.)
2) Any link, as immediately satisfying as it is to resolutely conclude all rumors and connect all dots, is a false hope at best. The truth lies elsewhere, mwuhahahahahaha.
3) I have now come to envision that the Sczarni, as well as "all" of the noble families (since they are all either politicians or lobyists (sarcasm)), perhaps have their thumbs in everyone else's pie. They have so many thumbs and pies that a baker could go mad keeping things straight.
I was wondering a bit about what would happen to all of Ameiko's new assets myself. In addition to the inn, she now has a house on the cliff and the factory.
No one has mentioned the house so far. She might want to sell it because it was where her mother was murdered (if she ever figures that out). Maybe she gives it to the PCs as reward for saving her. It might not be empty, there are probably servants or something in residence.
No other Kaijitsu's are mentioned that I recall, but that doesn't mean there aren't any cousins or something.
Also, I aree with tbug (who I used to call thug), I don't think the Szcarni and Scarnetti's are involved, despite the similar names. The Szcarni are Varisian and the Scarnettie are Chelaxian, so they're from different cultures. The Scarnettis are prudish and started the battle at the town's founding. Although I suppose the two sides could partner up temporarily.
I think it's more likely that the Szcarni would approach Ameiko directly, because they already had a relationship with her father. That was how Tsuto blackmailed him. It's also likely that she would be resistant to them and ask the PCs for help.
Oh, and I think the Glassworks are too important to the economy of the town to be abandoned. There should be other workers available, such as the sons of the dead guys or workers who were off duty or on vacation during the attack. But I agree that the hiring up phase would be an easy time for the Szcarni to plant a ringer.
Finding the Szcarni plant without arousing suspicion that Ameiko was on to them would make an interesting scenario.
I forgot that the Sczarni were Varisian. I would then see a temporary arrangement only because 1) they see a bigger picture, and they may seek out any means to increase their money and advantage in the city, and 2) they may want to settle the score with the Scarnetti's by using the alliance to blackmail them later.
I always find it interesting when two enemies/ rivals are forced to work together.
I also agree that not everyone *should* have necessarily died at the Glassworks. Since they trade to places as far away as Magnimar and Korvosa, I can see how there might also be skilled traders currently abroad selling their wares in addition to those having the day off, home sick, out partying, etc.