I have a party that, after failing to get an audience with Devargo, set the Dragon's Breath boat on fire to create a distraction. The plan worked too well, and the boat was heavily damaged. The AP states that arson would not be looked at favorably by the guard. How have other GMs handled this situation?
I guess the main question is did they get the letters? And did they make the arson look like an accident? Or did they just cast fireball?
Re Cressida and the guard's response while they can't approve of what they did it would be harmful for the campaign's progress to really come down on the party. I'd suggest Cressida warn them a bit about having to keep prying eyes from looking into the party's actvities. But if hte party has obtained the evidence well that should help mitigate. Basically unhappy, suggest trying to "keep a low profile" and move on. Maybe have some hired goons from Devargo attempt to ambush the party at some point but really burning down a crime lord's boat is pretty typical for adventurers.
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My party took over Eels End as their own private base of operations.`Attracting different businesses (and taking charge of the Brothel themselves).
Which is to say, that's an opportunity that won't be afforded them.
In any case, if the party deny their involvement with the fire then I'm sure Cressida won't look too closely (Eel's Ends a wretched hive of scum and villainy after all). Make it clear that she is not looking and if that sort of thing were to happen in any more respectable part of town then she might start looking and the PCs do not want her to start paying that kind of attention.
So I know my players well and I think they'll burn Eel's End after they get what they need.
If they are prosecuted for arson (and perhaps murder) I guess I can use the Gamemastery Guide for deciding on what a trial might look like? Assuming they get caught and there are witnesses?
Kind of an unfun way to potentially end the campaign, being sent to jail for 10 years. lol.
I guess I'll find a way to adjudicate it when it happens, but any ideas are welcome.
My players /did/ burn Devargo's ship, because they knew it was full of spiders. They took evidence of everything, including the spiders, then set a fire in the bottom and ran. They originally locked Chittersnap in his room, then set the fire, but I decided that Chittersnap climbed out of the trap door and had to be fought before leaving (adding in dramatic tension of them hearing the fire getting stronger before them.
That said, I decided that Cressida was displeased that they burnt it down, because of the danger, but that she would look past it due to their evidence.
So I know my players well and I think they'll burn Eel's End after they get what they need.
If they are prosecuted for arson (and perhaps murder) I guess I can use the Gamemastery Guide for deciding on what a trial might look like? Assuming they get caught and there are witnesses?
Kind of an unfun way to potentially end the campaign, being sent to jail for 10 years. lol.
I guess I'll find a way to adjudicate it when it happens, but any ideas are welcome.
Zenovia Zenderholm is the only magistrate listed in the guide to Korvosa and the Korvosan hierarchy tree in the back of the modules. She is known as 'the hanging judge.' This fits in with Korvosa being extremely strict on crime, like Cheliax from which most of her citizens hail.
Arson is serious business when buildings are as close together as they are in old Korvosa, and you can't count on the local fire brigade happening to have any handy ice or water spells. I would put it's punishment around as high as murder, and of course if anyone died in the blazes, those counts of murder should be tried as well.
There's a saying at our game table from a short campaign we ran leading up to Crimson Throne: "This isn't CSI: Korvosa!" But when a speak with dead spell is only 3rd circle, my players nearly found out the hard way just how wrong they were.
If they do get caught, there are still ways to continue the campaign if they are up to it, though it is much harder. Vencarlo might decide that he will help them in Cressida's place, or you could have Zellara deliver quest hooks through a Commune spell or Augury, or some other higher level divinations. Might be a good time to brush up on your Harrow deck reading skills.
It might be easier to transition into another Varisian AP instead though, like Second Darkness, Rise of Runelords, or Jade Regent.
Jason, any general idea why you're sure the players will burn Eel's end? This might be one of those times when an out of character DM hint is useful to stop a campaign derail, especially if they don't realize how serious arson can be. Burning the main ship with drugs getting brewed onboard might not be seen as too bad, but all the others are filled with civilians and near enough that they'd likely catch fire.
That said, maybe they can pull if off without getting caught if they use stealth & magic. Speak with dead won't work if they aren't seen.
I'm certainly going to tell them the ramifications of arson, not only on themselves but on the city. But who really knows that players will do? I just want to think about it ahead of time, so I can make a good decision if it happens.
Cressida was displeased that they burnt it down
But, but.... SPIDERS!!!!!
My party did not take the arson route at Ell's End (that action is an awesome story!) However, they did come very close to burning the "Old Fishery". A quick Knowledge (local) check alterted them to the fact, that regardless of how bad the bad guys are. Arson is a capital offense in the City of Korvosa.