Here is a shameless attempt to take advantage of the creative juices of this messageboard (and at the same time you get a glimp how the story evolves in my group).
Situation:
* I replaced the Lotus Dragons hideout with that of the thiefs in “mad god’s key” with some modifications. I added some wererat allies as well.
* The firethemed sorcerer PC got carried away with some of the preserving (and highly flammable) fluids I let him find at the taxidermist: he used them freely as Molotovcocktails (amongst others to destroy the wererats and rat swarms).
* The mansion (and a few other buildings) got burned down, but I let Rowyn escape before she confronted the PCs (seems the sensible thing to do, since the house was on fire).
I still want to have Rowyn make her offer to the PCs (for the nice roleplaying opportunities). I came up with the following scenario:
Place: the bath house (from War of the Wielded – possibly by adding a public pool section)
Time: during the gym hour of the students of Telvanta (sp?) academy
The PCs will be contacted in the public area to meet Rowyn in a more private (steam) bath room. She will have some Diamondback “clones” with her. Admission to the bath house will of course require leaving behind weapons and armour in the dressing rooms.
Any suggestions how to make this session more memorable? What about extra guards? Other Lotus Dragon affiliates? What about tactics when a fight breaks out?
Thanks for the input!
Hagor
If you're using guards with the same stats as Diamondback, Rowyn probably doesn't need anything else. A place like that is going to have pretty good security anyway to keep people behaving properly (which would be another reason Rowyn would choose the location, besides it being in public).
If the PCs are smart, there shouldn't be any combat in the bath house, as they will most likely be seen as the instigators and locked up by the city watch for disturbing the peace (or the academy's security, either one works). Rowyn would know this, and would make sure that her people don't start anything, just protect her.
It makes for a great roleplaying opportunity, where the 'battle' is with words instead of spells and steel. I can imagine her casually lounging there in naught but a towel just to distract the male PCs and keep them off-balance. Of course, the PCs would be in the same garb too. Talk about awkward... ;P
Either have the PCs find out about her current hideout and go there for the final fight, or come back to the bath house after hours and do it then. A battle in the dark, with steam and heat playing with the PCs senses, as well as 'water hazards' to fight around...it could be memorable!
I hope that helps! :)
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
This is really a nice idea. I am going to remember this one...
Thanks for the tips, Mr Dalesman!
I’ll probably use some Zelkarune’s Horn mercenaries as guards and some animated statues/caryatid columns inside.
Rowyn and company will not start the fight, but they may start shouting for help (when the “negotiations” fail) to frame the PCs (and to have a better opportunity for a clean getaway). I think it will be interesting to see how the players will react to that and if things go poorly (such as captured & thrown in jail), they may have to be “rescued” by Lavinia!
I have not yet decided on Rowyn’s new hideout – but I like your suggestion of making the bath house her new hide-out: a night time inspection can indeed be memorable…
Hagor
Thanks for the tips, Mr Dalesman!
I’ll probably use some Zelkarune’s Horn mercenaries as guards and some animated statues/caryatid columns inside.
Rowyn and company will not start the fight, but they may start shouting for help (when the “negotiations” fail) to frame the PCs (and to have a better opportunity for a clean getaway). I think it will be interesting to see how the players will react to that and if things go poorly (such as captured & thrown in jail), they may have to be “rescued” by Lavinia!
I have not yet decided on Rowyn’s new hideout – but I like your suggestion of making the bath house her new hide-out: a night time inspection can indeed be memorable…
Hagor
Sounds good, Hagor - let us know how it turns out!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"
What about the guild(s) in Sasserine that became the weapons in War of the Wielded as guards. For that matter one of them could be Rowyn's weapon/wielded.