Shalelu and Jakardros

[Darkeyes777]

Ran into a bit of a quandary when it comes to my RotRL campaign. After the death of the dwarven cleric at Thistletop, one of my players has elected to run Shalelu and make her a full-fledged PC. I have no problem with this, and in fact am quite excited about it.

My problem is when the PCs reach the Hook Mountain Massacre.

Spoiler:

The adventure states that Shalelu asks to join the PCs because she heard rumors about Jakardros being at Fort Rannick. It doesn't elaborate on where she heard about him or from whom. This is a great roleplaying opportunity for the Player and I don't just want to throw it away with a "you heard through the grapevine"

Any thoughts?

[Dave Gross]

Darkeyes777 wrote:

Ran into a bit of a quandary when it comes to my RotRL campaign. After the death of the dwarven cleric at Thistletop, one of my players has elected to run Shalelu and make her a full-fledged PC. I have no problem with this, and in fact am quite excited about it.

My problem is when the PCs reach the Hook Mountain Massacre.

Any thoughts?

Man, the sky's the limit. I'm almost hoping one of my PCs dies before Hook Mountain so he or she can have this problem. I haven't given much thought to what I'd tell the player except for what's in the background already, but I think that's more than enough for any players with the least interest in roleplaying.

[Tom Baumbach]

When I ran this, Shalelu was following around the group as an NPC through most of #2, so at the start of #3 she was around when the group was contracted to check out Fort Rannick (this was the first time this location had been brought up in the game). After their meeting with the Lord Mayor, Shalelu spoke up and said she'd like to accompany them, as she had heard Jak had joined the black arrows oh so long ago.

But, if you want for Shalelu (the PC) to be surprised: I'd leave it a secret that Jak is there. Instead, when the player adopts her, give him/her a background that includes a story about Shalelu's mother and her human lover saving the village from a terrorizing dragon, but her mother dying in the process. The human moved on, ne'er to be heard from since. Then, when [spoiler omitted] happens, you can say to the player: "One of the prisoners looks familiar. He's much older now than you remember, but you recognize Jakardros, your mother's former lover." or whatever.

[Moonbeam]

In my campaign, there was a Druid in Fort Rannick who was a common friend of Shalelu and Jakardros, and who sent a few animal messengers to Shalelu over the years, suggesting that she should come to the fort and renew her ties with Jakardros.

But the surprise angle is nice too. :)

[Ultradan]

I was wondering what Jakardros does AFTER the hook mountain massacre (should he survive). Does he stay and help with the fort? Or, the loner that he is, departs for the unknown to try and forget the downfall of the Black Arrows?

What did you guys do?

Ultradan

[wspatterson]

Ultradan wrote:

I was wondering what Jakardros does AFTER the hook mountain massacre (should he survive). Does he stay and help with the fort? Or, the loner that he is, departs for the unknown to try and forget the downfall of the Black Arrows?

What did you guys do?

Ultradan

He left the fort in my game with Shalelu and spent some time in Sandpoint with her. Then he helped the party out with the whole giant thing.