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Spoilerish.
After dealing with Lord Aldern Foxglove and his hackneyed house of horrors (I kid, I kid), my PCs returned to town to hash out exorcism (and arson) plans with Father Zantus. It’s more than his meager staff can manage, so the PCs have agreed to seek aid from the church of Pharasma in Magnimar. The Skinsaw clues point south too, so they’re happy to oblige.
Per routine, they also met with Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock (the PCs like to keep their actions transparent). Deverin explained that Foxglove’s sisters might live in Magnimar and worried that the PCs would be in hot water if the manor incident was framed as murder. So, with the aid of other Sandpoint nobles, she provided badges of favor: house guard cloak pins from each, even the Scarnetttis. It’s a more powerful signifier than militia badges since the nobles’ crests are recognized in Magnimar.
Anyway, about Shayliss. They met her on the road south, packed and ready to leave Sandpoint – with the PCs. The three female PCs (and players) dislike Shayliss on principle, and the two males consider her a minor nuisance or a guilty reminder, but her reasons are surprisingly compelling. She explained what it's like to live an adolescence book-ended by serial killers. 11 years old when Chopper stalked the streets, 17 when the Skinsaw Man found her sister. The underlying fear has kept most of the town’s young people on a tight leash. It’s stifling for a free spirit like Shayliss, and she fears if she doesn’t leave now she’ll just become another horror movie victim.
I hadn’t planned this - the encounter was on the fly - but the players have really embraced it. Shayliss has become a great spark, a reminder of why the PCs started adventuring and a symbol of what they’re trying to protect. She’s grown from a punchline into an interesting (if naïve) NPC. The PCs have even offered to help Shayliss get settled once they reach Magnimar.
Just throwing this out there, since people seem to enjoy reading about active campaigns, and it might give you ideas for your own Shayliss.
:)
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That's a nice bit of development, Selk. Depending on how far you wanted to go with it, you could potentially have an outpouring of Sandpoint young adults who just want to get away from what they might consider a 'cursed' town. Magnimar might seem safer and more stable to their mindset. Interesting...
I've been wondering if I'm even going to bother with Shayliss in my campaign. I don't think there is anyone in the party who would really feel like the right mark. This idea gives me some extra incentive to give it a try though!
Consider this idea yoinked, with thanks :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
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This is an interesting timing coincidence, as I was just writing this up when I checked the boards ...
IMC, Shayliss was pretty handily rejected by the only suitable PC (only human male), even after a second try. I think the players thought that would be the last they saw of her. After her sister's death, though, I started to describe PC encounters with her around town, and she always had a new bruise on her face or sling on her arm. Clearly Ven was taking the loss of his daughter pretty hard and was hitting the hooch he keeps in the basement (not to mention Shayliss). Usually these encounters were with other members of the party, who would report back to the original love interest, who has started feeling more and more responsible.
I then set her up as a barmaid/lady of ill-repute in Paradise (I set this in Sandpoint instead of Turtleback Ferry for all sorts of reasons). She was the classic "trying to pay for my way out of this town" figure. The rogue who ran into her there very gallantly refused her offers of "additional services," and ran back to inform the love-interest. Before anything could be done, the place burnt down, though (luckily, Shayliss had the night off).
Now Shayliss has heard that the PCs are fixing up Fort Rannick (now located just a long day's ride northeast of Sandpoint) and has approached the love-interest, bruised and bloodied by Ven's latest fit of anger, begging to be taken on as a servant, maid, whatever at the Fort, just to get her out of Sandpoint and away from her father.
I expect the PC will take pity on her and take her to Fort Rannick. Ultimately, I imagine a romantic conclusion to this subplot, although I suspect there will be further twists (an errant knight who lures poor Shayliss into bed and then departs, leaving her in a family way, etc.).
I have loved this little addition from day one, and my players have commented on this AP's role-playing options and involvement with NPCs. Good work, writers!
O
Selk, Arcesilaus, thank you both for posting these developments. I'm just starting RotRL, and I'm tempted by both of them...
Oh, by the way ...
It might go without saying, but I am fairly certain that when the stone giants come a'knockin' at Sandpoint (beginning of next session) that Shayliss will be one of the NPCs that they haul off in their sacks. No reason not to take advantage of that one.
o
Ooh. This is indeed quite brilliant. My PCs have just had their first encounter with Shayliss (and she was rejected). Reading this thread sparked a lot of possible ideas for how Shayliss might come back later (maybe changed from a spoiled rich girl into a young woman who wants to challenge/change her fate).
Thanks a bunch for sharing!
I've had one session with my group. They've made it to second level at the end of the 5 hour session. Shayliss targeted the Shonti favored soul (double perjudice) to come "Kill Rats" in the general store basement. Her father walked in on them and the father is fuming telling him to get out the PC is being respectful and calming Ven down. Just as it's all ready to calm down Shayliss pleads "But Daddy I Luuv him!" which causes the other player to roar with laughter. The play stands tall and says "I love her too." The laughter erupts again as Ven screams and shoves him into the street and locks his daughter away in her room.
Now I have ammo for their secret trysts and motive for her pursuit. Should I make pregnancy a 70% or 100% chance?
I've always been opposed to the idea of PC parenthood, for a variety of reasons.
1) It's restricting. It's hard to justify risking your life out adventuring, when you have hungry mouths to feed at home. It tends to get in the way of the story.
2) It's hard to do in good taste. Often this sort of thing ends up being taken to a place that someone at the table will find inappropriate. It's best just to avoid this sort of thing.
3) It isn't heroic. If you're trying to tell an adventure story, there's no better way to tear the action out of it than to introduce a baby. Believe me, my daughter has torn every scrap of adventure out of my actual life. :) You never see Conan or Dar or Han Solo popping out kids on screen, because it's just not action/adventure. They either love 'em and leave 'em or fall passionately in love and live happily ever after (and not just because they knocked someone up). The only exception is ...
4) You have to wait 15 years. Yes, the occasional sequel involving the hero's son or illegitimate offspring or some such allows for adventure combined with "What to Expect ..." but these things always happen after the baby has grown to adventuring age. I mean, you're never going to see little Timmy, the infant sorcerer, shooting magic missiles while hanging onto Sir Gawain's chest in his Baby Bjorn.
It's better drama to allow the player to decide if his character truly is in love with Shayliss (or not) than to "force" the issue with pregnancy.
Just my 2 asses (Roman cents).
O
Ever see the movie Shogun Assassin? I think it was called Lone Wolf and Cub in Japan (also the name of the comic).
His baby kicked ninja a$$!!!
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Now nothing is wrong with players wanting to have some sort of life in game other than get plot hook A, go to site B and kill bad guy C.
In my game the party's Sorcerer was "trapped" in the Shayliss arrangement. Though nothing happened and he diplomatically talked his way out they continued to see each other, and actually went through more tried courting rituals. What made it even funnier was the Sorcerer was a working guy at the Pixie Kitten, as was being paid good money to entertain the visiting Actress from Magnimar during all this.
Long story short he actually ended up having feelings for her, Shayliss that is, and ended up asking Ven for her hand in marriage. the plan was a for a Fall wedding, just at the start of AP 4, but he died a horrible death in Fort Rannick.
So I'll be taking my cue from this topic as a good start for ideas.
I like your ideas here, but remember not to 'punish' your PCs for having relationships.
A well-known game I was in has now become something of a catchphrase in my gaming group, and as soon as anyone mentions having a family, the cry of "My wife! My child! My dragon!" goes up, and no-one can contemplate leaving their NPCs in my wife's hands.
She's the evil DM by the way, though afterwards, we discussed it with her, and there was actually never any threat made or planned towards the aforementioned wife/child/self-appointed "guardian of the egg", we somehow made it all up paranoid-style and then constantly expected it in every gaming session. When it didn't happen, that just made us more nervous for the next session.
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I happened upon this thread just before our last game, and decided that Shalyss did seek out my wife's Pathfinder character to escort her to Magnimar (for the excallent childhood reasons used above). There was a mild friendship there already, so she agreed.
I played it so that Ven and his wife didn't know about it, and my wife's PC returned to let them know "your daughter is safely set up in Magnimar" and was met with ham-fisted swinging and bellowing galore!
-DM Jeff
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I haven't gotten to develop much with shayliss yet, as she just came onto one of my players last session. But boy did she pick the right player, an elven wizard who, aside from considering himself a scholarly type is certainly running the range of sins(in my notes he's dinged on all of them at least once, except for envy and thats just because he goes for double helpings of pride).
Anyway, when he got down to the basement he looked like he was half expecting to be drawn into an ambush of some sort and half ready to follow her anywhere. When she made her advances he certainly returned them, at least until he heard footsteps up above. Thats when he quickly decided that discretion seemed a better tact, though of course not before he dipped shayliss exaggeratedly for a final kiss and a "mi'lady" then let her fall back onto a sack of flour and dashed up the stairs. Readying himself behind the door for the approaching footsteps he quickly cast flare on ven as soon as the door was pulled open, hoping it would at least limit his chance to identify him, and sprinted past him.
Needless to say the PC has been laying low for the last few IC days at the curious goblin, but as one of the others has a strong tendency to go sample the vinders moonshine and shayliss is certainly on the look out for him too, I imagine that a encounter between them is quick approaching.
I really liked this idea and it made alot of sense to me. I have incorporated it into my game as well..
Shayliss has dreams of becoming an actress and was studying under Cyrdak at the theatre. She has decided to get out of this cursed town and go to Magnimar to become a star.
Unfortunately for my players, this was after Vin had grabbed our paladin through the bars of his cell and made the paladin swear to his goddess that he will keep his one remaining daughter alive :P
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Ever see the movie Shogun Assassin? I think it was called Lone Wolf and Cub in Japan (also the name of the comic).
His baby kicked ninja a$$!!!
Have you ever read 'Usagi Yojimbo', by Stan Sakai?
It's an anthropomorphic samurai comic, following the adventures of Usagi, the 'Rabbit Ronin'.
He has the Shogun Assassin as a supporting character, complete with baby and cart. Only he has a goat's head; hence the title 'Lone Goat and Kid' (kid... get it? oh well...).
Have you ever read 'Usagi Yojimbo', by Stan Sakai?
It's an anthropomorphic samurai comic, following the adventures of Usagi, the 'Rabbit Ronin'.
He has the Shogun Assassin as a supporting character, complete with baby and cart. Only he has a goat's head; hence the title 'Lone Goat and Kid' (kid... get it? oh well...).
Yeah, great comic. I have the books around here somewhere....