My group is coming to the end of TINH, and I expect them to turn down Rowyn's offer and then find the letters from Vanthus. I will have them find the map of Sasserine with the Lotus Dragons pins in it (hoping that they'll use it to investigate the Lotus Dragons safehouses and allies) and also have them invited to the banquet and dance at Castle Teraknian (where I can get them introduced and talk to some notable NPCs, like Avner for one)
The problem I have is that as soon as they read the letters from Vanthus, they'll immediately hightail it to Kraken's Cove, stopping past Vanderboren Manor to give Lavinia a quick update on events before leaving the city.
So has anyone else come up with any ideas to keep the PC's in the city for another week? (and delay the start of BWG)
There has been suggestions to use a storm to prevent sea travel, or some kind of religious holiday where the sailors won't leave port for a few days, but I don't want to use either of those... my players will cry foul.
I've got the following ideas so far :
- Alter Vanthus's letter so that it doesn't give a time when the smugglers will be at Kraken Cove
- If they do immediately go to Kraken's cove, they find it nearly empty, the main group of smugglers (and Vanthus) haven't arrived yet. There are a couple of pirates there, but they're just nothing more than guards, there's nothing more there to discover there at this point.
- Lavinia states that she's used what influence she has with the Dawn Council for the watch to keep a lookout for Vanthus, and she gets informed that he's headed out by sea to the east the day after the ball.
Thanks!
Their breakup of the Lotus Dragons can be made into a really big deal. Just have the Dawn Council forcibly reward them and task them with following up on the letter from Vanthus. Don't 'invite' them. Have them clapped in irons if they resist the honor. The city needs heroes like you, blah blah blah. We need to make an example of noble actions like yours, blah blah blah. Etc.
Also, have them need to get the ship together. That can take days without even stretching the suspension of disbelief. (Incidentally, it was at this point that I introduced Amella)
I sent my PCs on the "Fiend's Embrace" adventure between TINH and BWG.
Let some Lotus Dragons have survived, because they e.g. were away on a mission when the PC's attacked their base. When the PC's are about to leave for Kraken's Cove, they hear disturbing rumors that these Lotus Dragons are after them. It will draw them into the Sasserine underworld first. If you want to make it more exciting, let a sniper appear when they are at the party at Castle Teraknian or in another public place.
Or you can lure them to the house of Brissa Santos. I had them investigate a fire there (and they immediately thought Vanthus would be there).
Some Vanthus sightings in Sasserine might also help.
Alternately you can just let them go to Kraken's Cove and have the festivities when they return (e.g. as part of the Wormfall Festival - you them probably have to have a festival lasting 2 or 3 days, otherwise they cannot rescue Lavinia from the bullywugs).
Have you considered running war of the wielded between TiNH and BWG? It would fit quite nicely and has a link to older thieves guilds of Sasserine. You could even make one of the factions the lotus dragons and have the PC's side with the other faction. Only later to find out that they're not exactly the good guys either...
Have you considered running war of the wielded between TiNH and BWG? It would fit quite nicely and has a link to older thieves guilds of Sasserine. You could even make one of the factions the lotus dragons and have the PC's side with the other faction. Only later to find out that they're not exactly the good guys either...
I did this, it worked well and has given all my PCs worries about intelligent weapons. I will also reintroduce the weapon that 'escaped' into the lagoon this module or next. :)