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My party just finished the Temple of Hextor in TFoE. They have quite a bit of loot and are tired of the small town opportunities in Diamond Lake. Has anyone had any issue with the group going to the Free City in order to stock up on supplies not available in Diamond Lake?
What kinds of things should happen in their absence with the two remaining cults?
My party just finished the Temple of Hextor in TFoE. They have quite a bit of loot and are tired of the small town opportunities in Diamond Lake. Has anyone had any issue with the group going to the Free City in order to stock up on supplies not available in Diamond Lake?
What kinds of things should happen in their absence with the two remaining cults?
To prevent this distraction, I had the vendors in Diamond Lake take orders from distributers / vendors in the free city, to be delivered in 10 days.
If they insist on leaving... I'd warn them first in-game, that surprise is an element not to be given away frivolously. But it's an open game and thats part of the fun, so let them go if the really want. But it's also an reactive game, so I'd definitely make it considerable harder once the come back. The other 2 parts (the Faceless One at least) will certainly notice, and prepare accordingly. Maybe he goes shopping as well...
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My group approached Allustan with the treasures from the Cairn, having no PC who could identify them.
A PC had already recognised the statue relating to the Rod of [spoiler alert], and they had taken rubbings of the runes, so I had no reservations about revealing the identity of the entombed.
I had him lay it on thick that this was a major find, which should not be revealed to the locals, especially Khellek & Co, who they had already fought (and driven off! - long story).
He offered to act as their agent, and trade their finds for them, far away from town. They agreed, since they knew they were in a race with the Seekers, to breach the True Tomb. I imagine they will continue with this arrangement, since he has now completed his end of the deal by delivering their first commisioned items.
Below is an excerpt from some tween-sessions e-mail with a player who missed the meeting with Allustan. If you can reinforce the need for speed and secrecy, they may not leave town.
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Allustan offered to act as agent for the party, and trade any unwanted treasures far from Diamond Lake, via his contacts in the Free City. This was agreed by all, once he added that he could also arrange for more appropriate items to be commisioned at the same time.
While the divine characters discussed which wands they wished to order, using the proceeds, you were able to engage Allustan privately, and ask about the symbol on the rings. (This is a personal agenda; the PC has a childhood deja-vu...Dun Dun DUH!)
His face was grave, as he told you it was the symbol of an organisation called the Seekers, who consider themselves archaeologists and historians, but are viewed by many serious scolars as little more than tomb-robbers. When you told him you had seen the same symbol on Khellek's hand, he replied he already knew, and did not trust their motives, so had arranged for them to be mis-directed to the Stirgenest Cairn, which was (apparently) his usual approach to cairn-seekers he did not like.
“Their founders were ancient Suloise, descendants of the survivors of the Great Migration through the Pass of Slerotin, who hoped to unearth and preserve the secrets of their pre-cataclysmic empire. Though, since then, they have become much less selective in their investigations.
These people have no respect for the treasures they unearth, nor the uses to which they are put.
Power is the only object, or the money they can raise, from selling to the highest bidder, whoever that may be.”
“If this ‘Whispering Cairn’ is indeed as important as I suspect, then news of its discovery cannot be allowed to spread.
I would have sent you down the stirges’ nest, as well, had I been aware you were searching the area. I’m now glad I didn’t; though you look a ruffian, and I don’t know the dwarf-girl, I am aware of your other two companions, and trust that this information will stay in safe hands.”
“I would advise you not to tackle this group if you can avoid it. These three do not strike me as particularly high-ranking members, but they will have friends in high places.
Their leaders are sown through all levels of society, and I can vouch that they once had the ear of the Duke of Urnst. <DM note: the country immediately to the east of Greyhawk> Many an unfortunate has met their end on a forced errand from the Great Seer, after a trumped-up charge. And some of the most powerful mages in the Flanaess have died by their hand, or in attempts to foil them…” <his voice tails off, as if reminiscing>
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...had a good idea...
This idea crossed my mind but I dismissed it. I figured the party would be too suspicious to trust Allustan (they don't trust anyone they don't have to, though I do not regularly or even occasionally use betrayal as a tool. Hmph. D&D grognards, go figure!). Anyway, at our lat game session, my players suggested that Allustun may be able to have some items commissioned or purchased for them in the Free City.
Based upon their idea and your report for how well it worked, I am going to handle things the way you suggest.
Thanks for the tip!
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Based upon their idea and your report for how well it worked, I am going to handle things the way you suggest.
Thanks for the tip!
It helps that my group have no arcane caster, so they're over a barrel when it comes to identifying treasure.
Given that the only other wizards they know of:-
Khellek tried to bushwhack them in the hills, and could have killed them all, if it weren't for the ghost of Alastor taking action.
Another wizard, they're convinced is a necrophiliac. ("He keeps an animated head next to the bed? Ewwww!")
There might be a Mystic Theurge at the Cult of the Green Lady, but no-one wants to visit them and put up with a sermon on Suloise racial superiority (though they're not averse to threatening Filge that they'll hand him over to them, to get him to talk. Heh.)
So, Allustan's looking very trustworthy right now...