Okay so last warning.. this post contains what some would call spoilers.
Just ran the opening act of Haunting at Harrowstone and peasants/villagers died at the funeral.
2 to be exact cut down by one of the pcs. Okay more then cut down. 18 points of damage to one, and a cleave crit to the other for 32 pts.
These guys had 4 hp.
The rest of the peasants ran screaming. A few stuck around for one more round to take a couple shots at the attacking pc but then fled when their attacks were ineffectual.
How on earth do I have the town authorities react.
I know what damage has been done behind the scenes.
But I'm thinking the sheriff shouldn't let this go.
On the other hand he may even be intimidated by this.
How would you all handle the offending pc/party?
The party has gotten through the will reading and are investigating the journal and other books. I figured it would take some time for the town to mobilize and or alert the sheriff to what has happened.
I played the Father as in shock himself over the brutality of it all.
There are enough witnesses. Your PCs could argue in favor of self-defense. It was an angry mob with clubs, your PCs could claim they just got lucky shots. While the sheriff would argue in favor of just hanging the PCs and being done with it he would bow to the testimony of the high priest of Pharasma.
I wouldn't run them out of town. Instead I'd have the sheriff hear the conditions of the Professor's will and entrust them to Kendra's supervision. Probably have them followed wherever they go, maybe randomly demand what they're up to, in general act as a foil. Perhaps alter the trust mechanic so instead of trying to win over the townsfolk you're trying to prove your intentions to the sheriff.
And then when things start going bad for the town the sheriff knows exactly what group of powerful saps to send in. Sort of a 'do this or I reconsider having you hanged'.
Hmm I can work with that.
I know the trust mechanic is supposed to be party wide. But as they had just arrived for the funeral I am thinking I will allow for some separation of reputation.
The rest of the party are just as appalled as the villagers. If the sheriff came to hang the one pc that attacked they wouldn't try to defend him.
In fact some of the pcs want to go to the sheriff and offer to help arresting him.
I'm debating on arrest, gold restitution and 3 days in the stocks.
I like the idea of having them followed constantly.
Hmm I can work with that.
I know the trust mechanic is supposed to be party wide. But as they had just arrived for the funeral I am thinking I will allow for some separation of reputation.
The rest of the party are just as appalled as the villagers. If the sheriff came to hang the one pc that attacked they wouldn't try to defend him.
In fact some of the pcs want to go to the sheriff and offer to help arresting him.
I'm debating on arrest, gold restitution and 3 days in the stocks.
I like the idea of having them followed constantly.
you should talk to your pc and let him/her know that killing peasants is probably not going to keep him/her alive for very long. this is not the ap to kill everything or everyone you come across, after all theirs a place for wanton death and bloodshed and that place is serpent's skull)
Hmm I can work with that.
I know the trust mechanic is supposed to be party wide. But as they had just arrived for the funeral I am thinking I will allow for some separation of reputation.
The rest of the party are just as appalled as the villagers. If the sheriff came to hang the one pc that attacked they wouldn't try to defend him.
In fact some of the pcs want to go to the sheriff and offer to help arresting him.
I'm debating on arrest, gold restitution and 3 days in the stocks.
I like the idea of having them followed constantly.
Splitting the trust mechanic is paperwork. But in your case I'd suggest it.
Ooo! After 3 days in the stocks the sheriff can turn over custody of the assinine PC to the other PCs. Force them into the party the adventure assumes they're supposed to be.
Having them followed constantly will make for some interesting subterfuge later on what with the secret cache.
LOL, yeah the player was warned numerous times before hand. At this point there is no hope for that route.
I think i'm going to go the route of having the sheriff and his 4 deputies show up to arrest him. Along with a short trial.
The stocks, some gp restitution and the surrendering of his weapons I think will be the results i'll head towards.
I like the turning over custody to the other pcs. Hopefully the 3 days he spends in the stocks will allow the rest of the party to regain some favor.
Having a deputy constantly tailing the party sounds great too :)
thanks!
LOL, yeah the player was warned numerous times before hand. At this point there is no hope for that route.
I think i'm going to go the route of having the sheriff and his 4 deputies show up to arrest him. Along with a short trial.
The stocks, some gp restitution and the surrendering of his weapons I think will be the results i'll head towards.
I like the turning over custody to the other pcs. Hopefully the 3 days he spends in the stocks will allow the rest of the party to regain some favor.
Having a deputy constantly tailing the party sounds great too :)
thanks!
If the other players are just as appalled then I think getting them to act as jailers could be great. However, I would wait those in-game 3 days. Maybe even make it so he's buying his freedom by solving the town's problems. Failure to do so means he goes back to jail or is hung.
Although I'd also have the rest of the party looked at in a even more negative light at first since doubtless everyone knew the two men who were savagely killed. They'll also know "these outsiders came in and kill Tom and Eddy". Play it up.