Varisian wrath / payback

[BEGS]

My players recently killed a few varisian npcs and now im thinking about some payback.
So what kind of horrible payback could a few sinister Varisian Witches come up with.
Party lvl is about 4-5, however my players will more then likely be 6-7th lvl before this comes into play.
Any suggestions is welcome.

[Rory_N]

It kind of depends: do you want a behind-the-scenes type thing or an up-front-and-personal thing?

Behind the scenes could easily be done with various poisons or curses, not enough to actually kill the PCs, but enough to weaken them to a point that then they can be told what has happened to them and why. It could possibly lead to them having to perform a task for one of the slain victim's families in order to remove the poison/curse.

Something straight forward would be for one (or more) of the families of the slain NPCs to send out a group of high-level assassin-types to inflict their wrath. I don't necessarily agree with PC death as the result of their actions against NPCs, but it would depend on the circumstances.

[Helaman]

Or just harry and harrass...

Varisians make a evil eye sign at them when they are seen, if questioned, say they have 'the mark' on them and refuse to say more.

Have animals act skittish around them (like the players were under an animal antipathy curse) and have their packs or their coin purses lifted (you want to hurt but not ruin the party so walk on the side of a little rather than a lot).

The players can make arcana rolls or knowledge local rolls to find out that the Varisians put great store in 'the mark of vengence' - a mark put on those who have killed their fellows, always provided by one of their fortune tellers or witches.

Hopefully the players can put two and two together.

If that doesn't seem to work, have the players ambushed by a group of Varisians - make them low level CR1 (2nd level) with bows... they fire and run. Survivors track the party and do it again that night and so on until they lose half their number. Captured members can spit at the party and accuse them of the murderous deed.

[GeraintElberion]

Also, consider the social impact.

Formerly friendly NPCs are cold with them, shopkeepers are unhelpful and obstructive, inns are all 'full'.