The fighter PC in my group found out during the course of the game that he was actually a descendant of Surabar Spellmason. This elevated him from the status of blacksmith's apprentice, to a founding member of Cauldron's nobility. And that means... he was eligible under the Law of Peers to challenge Captain Skellerang for his position.
After returning from Occipitus, the party arrived at Redgorge and put an abrupt end to the siege. Laharl Spellmason challenged the captain to a duel and won easily, instantly getting control of the whole militia. The Blue Duke would not accept his authority, so the battle continued with those loyal to the PC joining forces with Redgorge.
Nabthatoron and his army of demons chose that time to attack. They marched over the hill with a huge legion of dretches, babaus, and hezrou. What followed was an epic three-way battle in which many soldiers died, but the city of Redgorge was victorious.
Now Chapter 7 is beginning and I am allowing the PCs some downtime to relax, research, and make items. But instead of relaxing they are talking about taking over Cauldron's government! With the Lord-Mayor gone missing, (they tried to scry his location and got nothing, you can't scry on the dead) Lord Vhalantru is the temporary ruler and they think he is corrupt. (actually they think all the nobles are corrupt). Since my PCs now control the militia, I don't know how to stop them from completely derailing the campaign!
Technically the captain of the guard has to take orders from the acting Lord-Mayor... in this case Vhalantru. He used to be a friend of the PCs and have wine and cakes with them at his estate. But with the mysterious disappearance of Celeste, and Vhalantru's constant drinking, followed by the huge tax on magic items, they now hate him. In fact, they almost tried to break into his house. If they tried that again, they would be powerful enough to make it past the half-orc guards but then probably be destroyed by Vhalantru himself.
The PCs have also considered firing or arresting all the council of nobles, and setting up whatever kind of government they feel like. They believe they are high enough level (12) to get away with that sort of thing. My fighter PC is the kind of guy who power-attacks the cohorts/NPCs with a Merciful greatsword if they dare to disagree with him.
Even if they don't invade the Vhalantru estate, the PC still intends to sit in on any future council meetings (he is a noble and as such has a vote in the council). He wants to pronounce the Lord-Mayor dead and call an immediate vote for a new mayor. This isn't supposed to happen until after the PCs have already killed both Rhiavadi and Vhalantru.
Suggestions?
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If you'd like to get them back on track, you can have someone within the town guard (Skylar Krewis, maybe, if he's survived this long) decide that, though your PC's authority was stronger than that of the Blue Duke, they are unwilling to support a guard captain who is planning an unlawful rebellion. This person could defect with most of the militia and head back to Cauldron to support the rightful government.
Also, when the character attempts to declare the Lord Mayor dead, remember that he only has one vote, and that he's a new voice on the council. Vhalantru should be much more familiar to them, and should be a persuasive voice. At least for a few weeks, he should be able to convince the other nobles that it would be a better idea to continue the search before simply declaring a new mayor (Vhalantru could easily play up this character's selfish motivations in attempting to call for a vote as well). Then, as the characters track down the assassins and wind up taking out the church of Wee Jas, Vhalantru can point to that as further evidence of their desire to take over the city and continue to maneuver the rest of the town's influential people against them.
The doppleganger, of course!
Previously they had left the lord-mayor in Fellian's care, since they expected an assasination attempt. Fellian and the Lord-Mayor have both been eaten by Vhalantru but the PCs don't know that. All they know is that the two of them have been impossible to scry lately. Gortio can make up a story about how they were attacked by *insert villain here* and had to flee to a safer hiding spot on another plane. Gortio can also lie and say that the mayor is the target of some sort of ritual (implying that the mayor is a shackleborn). All this deception serves to turn the attention of the PCs away from Vhalantru and towards the Last Laugh, Cathedral of Wee Jas, or other scapegoat.
The doppleganger, of course!
Previously they had left the lord-mayor in Fellian's care, since they expected an assasination attempt. Fellian and the Lord-Mayor have both been eaten by Vhalantru but the PCs don't know that. All they know is that the two of them have been impossible to scry lately. Gortio can make up a story about how they were attacked by *insert villain here* and had to flee to a safer hiding spot on another plane. Gortio can also lie and say that the mayor is the target of some sort of ritual (implying that the mayor is a shackleborn). All this deception serves to turn the attention of the PCs away from Vhalantru and towards the Last Laugh, Cathedral of Wee Jas, or other scapegoat.
How did Fellian disappeared? He has a <i>telephatic bond</i> with all other striders (unless you ruled otherwise, what I should have done actually, but didn't). So unless taken by surprise (instant kill or unconcious), the attempt would be immediately noticed and Gortio would betray himself by not sharing their bond.
Furthermore, the PC's could know the two are dead because of repeatedly failed scrying attempts (any defense against scrying would result in a "blocked" status).The same problem rises in chapter 9, LoO. Here Fellian is captured at Rhiavadi's estate and brought to the LL safehouse. Why in earth didn't he contact the striders the moment he was caught? (or better, before he entered the place) Instant unconciousness is the only explanation, I think.
Talking about your problem then, if your PC's are so cocky and think they can take over cities command and rule just let them. They may find a gruesome end in the "hands" of Lord V, but that's how it goes when power is wrongly handled.
Anyhow for the story it makes not much of a difference in which order the cathedral, Rhiavadi or V are demasked.
I was pretty sure the telepathic bond was only between Meerthan and each individual strider. And also it only takes a moment to be turned to stone, so no time to send a telepathic message.
The rules for scrying are too vague. What happens if the target of the scrying is dead or their body doesn't exist anymore? Lord V would not do anything that would put him at risk for being found out.
As for the problem with LoO, I intend to solve that by having the Strider (in this case Shenshen) already infiltrating the guildhouse when they are captured.
I was pretty sure the telepathic bond was only between Meerthan and each individual strider. And also it only takes a moment to be turned to stone, so no time to send a telepathic message.
From the SRD: You forge a telepathic bond among yourself and a number of willing creatures. Each creature included in the link is linked to all the others.
I agree on the turn to stone.
The rules for scrying are too vague. What happens if the target of the scrying is dead or their body doesn't exist anymore? Lord V would not do anything that would put him at risk for being found out.
Then you just cannot scry on that person, but you could try locate object, perhaps :-)
Dispel magic can take out the telepathic bond, no?
And a beholder's anti-magic cone can cause the bond not to function, quite suddenly, although the cone would have to be shut off before the petrification ray would work.
Dispel magic can take out the telepathic bond, no?
Certainly, against 14th level magic of Meerthan.
And a beholder's anti-magic cone can cause the bond not to function, quite suddenly, although the cone would have to be shut off before the petrification ray would work.
Nevertheless, the main problem is that Fellian is suddenly cut off from the telepathic bond. Which means trouble, Meerthan and the other striders immediately know something is terribly wrong!