Baroness Drelev's birthday Party - Blood for Blood

[Touc]

Has anyone run a scenario for if the characters manage to get an invitation? My players plan on dressing up with forged invitations and keeping a low profile to scout out the Baron and his fort before they try anything as major as liberating the town or freeing Lord Numesti.

[Rickmeister]

No magical items: The keep is secured by many many wards that tingle with magic, not to mention a certain dust imp can smell it (GM power)
Players are reluctant to go in without their gear at that level.

No players with high aura (paladin/cleric).. Again, there is a very intelligent wizard in the house.

Invitation only means there is a guest list. What if they are not on it?
Drelev is VERY suspicious, so there should be an instant ALARM ALARM!!

Maybe use the woman from the Velvet Corner to hint at "Might not be safe" and "You will stand out like a smoked ham in a fruit salad".
Use your NPC's damn it!

And to be honest... I cannot see baron Drelev throwing a ball while the affairs with the Barb Lords are not in order.. maybe a small get-together, because he must...
But i'm sure he would rather spend his time with a certain someone other than his wife? ;)

[Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal]

Rickmeister wrote:

And to be honest... I cannot see baron Drelev throwing a ball while the affairs with the Barb Lords are not in order.. maybe a small get-together, because he must...
But i'm sure he would rather spend his time with a certain someone other than his wife? ;)

That last could actually be an argument in favor of him throwing a birthday celebration, a big one, for his wife. Much easier to sidle off for an assignation or three while the little woman is busy being the center of attention of hordes of 'important' visitors.

[Touc]

It's the wife who insists on the lavish party; most likely the Baron is going to be off "working" with his mistress. Good idea on the guest list, might be interesting to watch the players squirm a bit when their invitations don't match and see what ways they can play it cool.

They're in cahoots with Satinder from the Velvet Corner who had an invitation (that she threw in the rubbish heap and was the inspiration for a forgery).

[Diafanus]

Looking at the map of the Banquet room and Ball room, these rooms are hardly large or immense. The Banquet room/ Throne room has room at the table for 8 guests, 2 families at most. Same for the Ball room. How many guests did Baroness Drelev invite? Not many it would seem.

[pennywit]

A couple ideas:

• This ball could very much be at the behest of Pavetta, rather than Hannis. And the preparations could show it.

• Invitees could include a few dignitaries from Pitax and/or other River Kingdoms.

• If you have a chance, consider the rules for social combat and social encounters from Ultimate Intrigue.

• Everybody loves a Tiger Lord gatecrasher.