What if the PC's discover, via detect magic, that the mayor is under magic influence?

[Forever Man]

I've just ran the tax revolt (Ch 5 - Demonskar Legacy), and as the player came out to give his speech to break up the riot & passify people anger about all the new taxes, a pesky PC cast detect magic and noticed that was some sort of enchantment on the mayor's person (I assume this was a result of Vhalantru or Lady Rhiavadi's influence).

I fear that my players won't want to search for Alek Tercival, deeming the mayor to be more important. Do you have any idea what kind of excuse / explanation I could give about what the mayor's enchantment is?

Additionally, the mayor disappears at some point in the next chapter or so, but I can't find in the text exactly where. Do any of you happen to know?

Thanks,

- FM

[section8]

Forever Man wrote:

I fear that my players won't want to search for Alek Tercival, deeming the mayor to be more important. Do you have any idea what kind of excuse / explanation I could give about what the mayor's enchantment is?

If the mayor or the Town Council have directed the party to look for Alek, they will look "bad" and possibly disloyal if they don't listen and instead poke around the mayor. Having them suspect things are going on in the Town Council is fine at this point. Things will become more evident to them if you are running the Siege of Redgorge.

Forever Man wrote:

Additionally, the mayor disappears at some point in the next chapter or so, but I can't find in the text exactly where. Do any of you happen to know?

If you are using the hardcover, it is mentioned on page 197 in the Behind the Scenes for the TotSE. The magazines mention that the mayor is missing at the start of SotSP only under the Cauldron Authority figures section.

[Forever Man]

section8 wrote:

If you are using the hardcover, it is mentioned on page 197 in the Behind the Scenes for the TotSE. The magazines mention that the mayor is missing at the start of SotSP only under the Cauldron Authority figures section.

Thanks.

[Shimrath]

Forever Man wrote:

a pesky PC cast detect magic and noticed that was some sort of enchantment on the mayor's person (I assume this was a result of Vhalantru or Lady Rhiavadi's influence).

Perhaps this is too late to remedy what's happened in your campaign, but. . .

Spoiler:

I'm not sure why the Lord Mayor would have any magical influences to detect. Reading the first paragraph of the opening chapter of the adventure path (Hardcover pg. 33), Vhalantru does charm various nobles and town guard, but it states that the Lord Mayor is none the wiser. So i think it's safe to assume that the Mayor just relies heavily on Vhalantru because he's somewhat incompetent and trusts the young noble, with no magical charm needed.

[The Black Bard]

Lots of bluff, lots of knowledge, and a few potions of glibness, equals an overwhelming amount of non-magical, and thus non-detectable, ability to influence others, especially those susceptible to such influence, due to stress, a weak will, and a desire to find an easy way out.

I ran Vhalantru as a "noble intention politician" who was extremely knowledgeable, but rather "suprised at the rampant corruption" of Cauldron's government. The PCs saw the mayor as an average joe in over his head in a time of epic crisis, with Vhalantru doing his best to support the poor sap, only to be foiled by layers of corruption, delegation, and red tape.

They didn't have a CLUE who Vhalantru really was until they answered a "distress message" from him about his fear that "the evil plaguing Cauldron has laired right beneath my very feet, all this time!" They were halfway through the fight with him when one of them spotted the suit and put it all together. Quite the shocked expressions.