Scroll down if you want to get right to my questions.
I am in the middle of DMing Escape from Old Korvosa and my group consists of following characters:
DM: Me
Chelaxian Paladin of Iomade 7, Antonor
Half-Elven Shape-shifter of Shelyn 7, Quinta Arkonas
Gnomish Investigator 7, Theodric (was missing the session)
Elven Air Elementalist 7, Seldlon
Shoanti Cleric 5/Fighter 2 of Zon-Kuthon, Thom
Last time the party entered Old Korvosa by water walking invisibly to the island. On the way to Orisini's Academy they've encountered a mob who was mugging Tesh Zobberdin. They've rescued him, slaughtering but one of them. He was still determined to get the emporer, but the party clearly saw it as a suicide mission. He bolted, as the party tried to hold him from his vengeance, and all but the paladin went after him, grappling him down, and bringing him to tears, as he was too helpless (not a single social check succeeded).
The paladin was all alone at the bodies of the mob, because some urchins tried to rob them. He clearly was against it, and convinced them of following him for a better life (even if he didn't have a plan what to do with them - only faith).
They went for Fort Korvosa, and after the gate guards got some convincing (bribed), they entered and brought the children to a abounded stable, After which they left for the academy. Seeing it burned down, they entered the house of Orisini, and getting ambushed at the second floor. The assassins weren't that effective, because the party wizard thwarted their plan of burning down the house with 2 ice storms (which hit pretty much everyone ;) ). Seeing that their fighting wasn't very effective (only 1d8+1 in melee, without any flanking oppurtunities), the assassins made a slow reatreat. One of the went out of the window into the darkness, and got followed by Quinta (who acquired darkvision with aspect of the beast). Unlucky for her, she was the only one following him, as the other three went at the other one (most of them in full plate, except the wizard, so they couldnt move a lot on the ice produced by the wizard).
Anyway, Quinta got mesmerized by the red mantis, and at the last round, Thom went to help her, didn't know how to resuce her, and tried an attack on the assassin, which missed, and she got executed. The round after that, he was alone in the darkness with the assassin, and 4 attacks, with each +3d6 sneak attack were the end of him.
So the paladin and the wizard were left. They chased the other assassin, but after not hearing from the other two, they deceided that it was better to check for them. They saw the corpses (the red mantis waiting on the roof for them to go out) picked them up, and dimension doored to the stables.
There they encountered the student of Vencarlo, who recognized his rescuer from EoA,told them about Scream, and promised to raise the children to be able to protect themselves with honor. Antonor and Seldlon went to investigate, leaving the corpses at the stables.
They've met Laori, who the paladin thought of being very suspicious, but the party wizard convinced him of letting her help, as she only needed to speak to Scream, didn't lie to them, and even offered to help to ressurect the companions (as they alone probably wouldn't be able to rescue Scream). The paladin grudgingly accepted, as she showed no obvious evil intentions, and he couldn't just do something against her, only because of her wrong faith-and her evil aura.
As she encountered the dead players, she was able to ressurect Thom without any material components (Thom had a vision of Zon-Kuthon about him meeting her after the third harrowing, as the Vision card came up), but for Quinta I am not sure what to do.
Here the session ended, and here are my questions:
-How does a Zon-Kuthon cleric (Laori) react to a follower of Shelyn? Laori saw Quintas holy symbol, so how should I react to that? Are they allowed to ressurect Shelyn followers?I just know they have a weird family relationship.
-What are the Red Mantis doing, after they were detected? Are they going to finish their job and hunt down the PCs, or are they still trying to wait for Vencarlo? I am not sure what to do there...
-Should I let the paladin have any consequences for working with Laori?
-Quinta was raised as a child in the Elven Embassy, and she only knows her family by the name. Quinta and her player don't know that she is of Rakshasa blood, and I am not sure how I should let the Arkona family react to Quinta? Will they try to charm her into helping the family after hearing of her talents(champion of korvosa), or will they try to get rid of her, as she might prove to dangerous? What do you guys think would be the best way of storytelling it to my player?
Thank you for the long read, and sorry for my bad writing style. I hope I'll get some answers until sunday, as then is our next session.
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Just IMO but:
-How does a Zon-Kuthon cleric (Laori) react to a follower of Shelyn? Laori saw Quintas holy symbol, so how should I react to that? Are they allowed to ressurect Shelyn followers?I just know they have a weird family relationship.
Sure! Laori actually raised a cleric of Sarenrae in our game. It was a practical and honorable thing to do, especially since he got killed trying to retrieve someone for her. The twisted familial relationship is something that can really be played up. That and a follower of Shelyn owing something to a Zon-Kuthonite is just too good to pass up.
You could play it up as a show of love from Zon-Kuthon towards even the followers of his sister, and that the true faithful of ZK only want to share that love with everyone. Especially followers of Shelyn. Of course ZK's idea of love is going to be a mighty twisted and horrifying thing....
Plus, that Shelynite will feel more pain alive than on Nirvana. ;)
-What are the Red Mantis doing, after they were detected? Are they going to finish their job and hunt down the PCs, or are they still trying to wait for Vencarlo? I am not sure what to do there...
They've been outed at least. One might stay behind at the house just in case, but the rest would likely tail the PCs as a possible lead to Vencarlo(and thus Neolandus).
-Should I let the paladin have any consequences for working with Laori?
This really depends on how both the paladin and Laori are played. As long as Laori doesn't commit evil for the lulz while working with the paladin and actually plays up the better aspects of her lawfulness along with her natural friendliness, the paladin can get by fine. The paladin should likely disapprove of Laori's choice of deiteis, and some genuine attempt at redeeming her is always plenty of justification for a paladin to hang around someone evil.
Basically, if Laori is evil but considerate of her company, and the paladin makes note that she's in evil company and at least tries to discourage or redeem that evil, the pally should be okay.
-Quinta was raised as a child in the Elven Embassy, and she only knows her family by the name. Quinta and her player don't know that she is of Rakshasa blood, and I am not sure how I should let the Arkona family react to Quinta? Will they try to charm her into helping the family after hearing of her talents(champion of korvosa), or will they try to get rid of her, as she might prove to dangerous? What do you guys think would be the best way of storytelling it to my player?
With the Arkonas you can have it both ways at once! ;)
If Bahor is savvy to what she is, he may very well hide it and just stress that she really would be a good choice to go downstairs and take out Vimanda, even as he secretly hopes that both Vimanda and the party(and Quinta!) die in the conflict. He could lay the flattery on pretty thick.
Vimanda on the other hand could let the recognition plainly show and she could possibly make a real convincing case to Quinta that they should team up, that Bahor has set them both up for a fall, and that the power of the Arkona family could be theirs to share if they just take out the rest of the rakshasas upstairs. All while plotting to do Quinta and the party in when it's all over.
Can't trust a rakshasa, even if you're a rakshasa! The Arkona family's living proof of that. :)
Thank you for those good answers, they are helping me very much preparing my next session!