Nualia’s got an interesting character hook alright, but I’m missing any point where the PCs get to learn any of it.
As far as I can glean from my readings, all the PCs learn about her is that she’s trying to convert herself into a fiend of sorts. Any advice for letting them in on the story of her being an outcast aasimar child who killed her priestly step-father and murdered the deadbeat father of her still-born demonchild as a first step to becoming a fiend?
suggest that one or more of your pc's be from the town of Sandpoint. Then some of the story should be known to them as it would to most of the townsfolk.
I think this depends on your players' background, skills, and relationships with local people.
If they're from Sandpoint, they should know tales about a blessed child of extraordinary beauty, raised by Father Tobyn, who was killed with him during the Late Unpleasantness. Perhaps they've even seen her, maybe they were even among those that used to tease her or pester her for miracles.
With Gather Info, Bardic Lore, Knowledge: Local, and/ or associating with Father Zanthus and other possible citizens, they should be aware of this bit of info at the very least. In addition, these skills may allow them to glean additional information with a higher DC: such as learning that she was pregnant, or just perhaps that she shamed Father Tobyn for some reason.
So, the players will be presented with a mystery. They know about who she is and what she was, but they won't know why she's "switched sides," as it were. They might get some of the info if they can Charm Tsuto, or otherwise manage to contact anyone else currently associated with Nualia. Perhaps this bit of info is learned after they killed her and during Pathfinder #2. Either way, I don't think such detailed knowledge is required for players to enjoy the adventure. Many players could care less about the history lesson although her background gives the DM a better understanding of her motives when playing her as an NPC.
I think if your players are curious, I'd try to establish a logical trail of breadcrumbs for them to follow. My player was very intrigued with the abduction of Father Tobyn's body, and now she's starting to piece the puzzle together as she has set out to tackle Thistletop.
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The Nualia backstory is one of the reasons I'm requiring that at least some of my party be native to Sandpoint with ranks of local knowledge. There's just too many hooks and tidbits lying around for natives to pick up on. I don't want to rely on too many lucky gather info checks or talkitive NPCs to pass the information on.
Anyway, Nualia's whole story is supposed to come out in her notes and journals that are left behind after she's defeated. That's a bit cheesy, but it works.
You could always have some of the back story come out as monologue during the battle. Especially if you have PCs native to Sandpoint.
"You! You never liked me! You made my childhood hell!" etc.
If you really want to spice things up, one of the PCs could be related to (or just acquainted with) the guy who knocked her up, who she killed. Ooo! Awkward.
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I probably mentioned this before but my son made an aasimar crusader of Sarinrae. We just started last night and the odd looks that he's been receiving from the locals started to creep him out. I even had an old woman come up to him with a small shears asking for a lock of his hair.
He was raised at Windsong Abbey under much different conditions and was sent as a representative of the Abbey for the Swallowtail Festival/re-dedication.
The players were also very interested in the theft of Tobyn's bones (with much referense to "Tobyn's Spirit Guide") and Naffer informed them of Nualia and how Rayn (my son's PC) could be a brother to Nualia.
The elven cleric in the group was also informed by Father Vantus of Nualia's past and fateful demise.
Later,
Greg Volz
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One of my players has a character who is a local: a cleric of Serenrae and the son of two Magnimar artists who have retired to Sandpoint. His father is a portraitist who occasionally does funerary cameos. He painted all the victims of the late unpleasantness, all from memory, but he found it most difficult to capture his Nualia's beauty. Kendra Deverin keeps the one of Casp on a chain under her tunic.
His father's workshop contains a stack of sketches of Nualia - enough to frame a flashback of the strange girl when they come across her sketch in Tsuto's journals.
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A more generic way to do it is to make Nualia the inspiration for the idol sculpture of Shelyn at the new cathedral. She was the most beautiful girl in town and she "died" in the fire, so it would be a fitting tribute by a sentimental sculptor.
Each idol would be paraded on litters during the festival before they're placed inside the cathedral. When the PCs see her picture in Tsuto's journal they'll think "Waitaminute, that's Shelyn!?" and go running back to the cathedral for Nualia's backstory.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I probably mentioned this before but my son made an aasimar crusader of Sarinrae. We just started last night and the odd looks that he's been receiving from the locals started to creep him out. I even had an old woman come up to him with a small shears asking for a lock of his hair.
He was raised at Windsong Abbey under much different conditions and was sent as a representative of the Abbey for the Swallowtail Festival/re-dedication.
Greg Volz
That's creepy. Consider it stolen.
Now I just need players and an aasimar
A more generic way to do it is to make Nualia the inspiration for the idol sculpture of Shelyn at the new cathedral. She was the most beautiful girl in town and she "died" in the fire, so it would be a fitting tribute by a sentimental sculptor.Each idol would be paraded on litters during the festival before they're placed inside the cathedral. When the PCs see her picture in Tsuto's journal they'll think "Waitaminute, that's Shelyn!?" and go running back to the cathedral for Nualia's backstory.
Very solid idea. I had though of putting a small weather statue or bust in the graveyard, but this is far superior.
Another idea is to have a late night encounter at a crowded tavern where a drunken bard (or other performer) sings the first part or two of a ballad about a young girl who died in a fire, before getting shouted down by the bar/innkeeper (perhaps something about "Having respect for the dead.")
I was personally thinking something along the lines of of the Pete Seeger or perhaps even Cat Power versions of House of the Rising Sun, but it also occurs to me that something even more sinister (like Leadbelly's take on"Where Did You Sleep Last Night") might be warranted.
Make no mistake, I'm not a singer myself, but the melodies are pretty well known, so it's something I might play in the back ground while reading a couple lines of the ballad.
...A more generic way to do it is to make Nualia the inspiration for the idol sculpture of Shelyn at the new cathedral......I had though of putting a small weather statue or bust in the graveyard, but this is far superior.
Wow! I will use both, thanks.
I was going to go with a memorial frieze of a village scene with Nualia & her father + the chopper victims; making a point of Nualia's exceptional beauty.
It is very likely that the new cathedral would have some form of memorial.
Some great ideas, folks.
Selk, consider your Parade of Idols stolen, and Michael F's dialogue ideas for Nualia at the confontation.
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This is all good stuff, I particularly love the idea of the idol of Shelyn.
My own plans to introduce the backstory are:
1. At the festival, before the raid, one of the PCs will see Father Zantus arranging a small shrine (near the church or in the boneyard, whichever seems more appropriate at the time). If asked, the Father will tell them it is a special memorial to Father Tobyn and his adopted daughter. Father Zantus will then relate a large part of Nualia's story to the PC. I plan to present enough info that it may make the player immediately suspicious that Nualia set the fire 5 years ago.
2. After the PCs find out Father Tobyn's remains have been taken, they may investigate the boneyard. At this point they will probably notice that Nualia's remains are not there, they were never found. This should just about convince them that she is involved in the current plot.
3. Tsuto's journal reveals just about everything else the PCs need to know.
4. Finally, I'll have the final encounter with Nualia start as a noncombat encounter, she wishes to try to talk to the PCs and explain herself, villain style. If the players are in the mood to talk to her, they can get more info. If they immediately attack, of course, this opportunity will be lost.
I really like Nualia. Really, I'm not sure what to do with her at the end of the adventure, myself. Thing is, she's just so interesting, a villain I actually feel bad for (I've known several lasses in her position, and her being vulnerable to being consumed by wrath is understandable).
Adding on to this thread, how should Nualia be run? she's in E4, but when the PCs get there... well, what should she do? Talk to them? is she going to try to destroy them? Should she flee to fight another day?
I don't know if I'd even want to kill her off! Depends on the PCs, but yeah. Were I a PC, especially after learning what the deadbeat and the town did to her, plus years of isolation and abuse, plus getting screwed up by madness-creatures from foul dimensions...
I hope Pathfinder does something interesting with her, even if just in memory. Maybe years later have her body used by Frankenstein as his bride!!! or sumthin.
Also: I'd swap in warlock levels rather than Cleric, but that's just me.