So one of my players is playing as a halfling rogue and he wants to "go evil" and become an assassin. During the Skinsaw Murders part 1, he killed an innocent Scarni lumber mill worker in order to "draw out the serial killer." and the player was trying to use that as a prerequisite of the assassin PrC.
Not so fast my friend! Ain't no assassin's guild in Sandpoint, but there will be a small one in Magnimar. If his character wants to join the guild, he's going to have to kill a character that the PCs like. The main characters they've dealt with are Sheriff Hemlock, Shalelu (the ranger), and Ameiko Kaijitsu (innkeeper).
REASONS FOR A HIT:
Ameiko is (?) the current heir of the Glassworks. Before being shut down, was a profitable business in Sandpoint. She also used to be an adventurer. Maybe her past caught up with her?
Shalelu (realizing she appears in a later RotRL, I'll have to check her importance) has been a thorn in the side of local goblin tribes and bandits and highwaymen. Her presense has made the roads safer, maybe a bandit leader wants to get rid of her so his crew can profit.
Hemlock is a turncoat, having abandoned his Shoanti heritage. He is also the head of law & order in Sandpoint (though the PCs have now reached a higher status, of sorts).
THOUGHTS?
I am having a whole sidequest about Ameiko and the glassworks. The Scarnettis want to buy the Glassworks from her, but she staunchly refuses to sell because she knows that the Scarnettis are being sponsored by the Sczarni (at least that is in my world). Either the head of the Sczarni or Titus Scarnetti could hire the PC to perform a hit on her so that the transaction can go smoother.
Hmmm, perhaps they will order the hit on her hoping that either the property goes up for auction (if Ameiko has no heir) or that they could get a better price from the heir (if Ameiko bothered to create a will). I like it. AND it's the inn where the PCs always stay!
I think I saw James Jacobs say on the boards that Ameiko may be used in the future. But if the PC bumps her off, you can just cross that bridge when you come to it.
Is the rest of the party good aligned?
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Who is ordering the hit?
The person from whose death the most long-term benefit could be obtained would appear to be Ameiko. As the last surviving member of her family, at her death the Glassworks and the other Kaijitsu assets would be claimed by the government (probably in Magnimar) and auctioned off. If the assassins or their backers have an angle on the auctioning or other legal assignment processes, then killing Ameiko would net someone a very profitable little business, with all sorts of potential benefits.
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While ordering the halfling to hit someone the party's grown attached to really plays up the turn to the dark side, you may prefer to set up the hit to make the party's future more uncomfortable or inconvenient. In that case, I'd suggest the mayor of Magnimar's benevolent and competent secretary if you intend to expand on politics in Magnimar (he'd be my first choice if he helps the PCs deal with Ironbriar consequences) or perhaps Shalelu's father (if he's in no hurry to pick up the class). If the heroes in the party have taken a shine to Sandpoint, I'd suggest Father Zantus. Two head priests in a row and the good guys might just go nuts. Madame Mvashti, the garbageman, or Jubrayl the gangster might also be people someone would pay money to see dead, while being likely to draw attention from the authorities or stir up the kind of strife that attracts benevolent meddlers. Depending on PC actions in Burnt Offerings, the shopkeeper as a frame-up on another PC might be an option, especially if the timing works out so that the party is up the Yondabakari before they hear about it. Imagine the reception they'll get when they get back!
Here's another take on a possible hit target, but I'm putting it in spoiler tags, because, well, it's spoiler-ific.
I vote with the earlier suggestion of Ironbriar, but with the following modifications:
1. The assassin's guild is tight with/tied into/an extension of the gargoyles and/or the night scales.
2. The hit on Ironbriar is for letting too much "non-union" work get through the court system (basically, retribution for him using his position to cover for the Skinsaw cult. The group ordering the hit doesn't need to know about the Skinsaw men, only that Ironbriar has been letting some suspected non-guild murderers of the hook.)
3. The assassination *must* be *very* public.
This means that the PC(s) can't just off Ironbriar as part of the regular campaign. He/she/they have spare(or otherwise save) Ironbriar, and then execute him in full daylight.
OR the hit could be ordered if Ironbriar escapes (and his position as leader of a murderous, non-guild approved death cult is revealed) requiring the PCs to hunt down Ironbriar, possibly to some gods-forsaken border town, like Turtleback Ferry.
Other alternate ideas involve taking out one of the named leaders of the Magnimarian criminal underworld on behalf of some other criminal group, such as a contract from the Gargoyles to off the leader of the Night Scales or the Gallowed.
Thanks folks. I love all the ideas, so I have some decisions to make :)
The party is neutral, and some of the characters are oblivious. The elven wizard does know about it, but has done nothing so far. Convenient, but maybe the elven wizard is corruptable. Besides I'm not going to bully my players into turning each other in... I'll let them do that on their own accord.
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Thanks folks. I love all the ideas, so I have some decisions to make :)
The party is neutral, and some of the characters are oblivious. The elven wizard does know about it, but has done nothing so far. Convenient, but maybe the elven wizard is corruptable. Besides I'm not going to bully my players into turning each other in... I'll let them do that on their own accord.
If the person wants it before going to the city.... Theater is a breakneck business. Maybe an assassin was hired to off the famous actor for opting out of his contract in magimar mid-run and some souvenir that only the theater business knows is meant to say "this is what happens when you leave us mid-season" And he could offer the PC to enter the guild if the PC does it for him.... and then just leaves after the job is done, without contacting the PC. Once the party gets to magimar, the PC can confront and expose this liar o the guild, (even though they deal in death personal honor is a big thing for assassins, so clients will feel like their secrets are safe) and upon killing the liar the PC can gain full admission...