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!ATTENTION!
!MY PLAYERS(Aja, Michelle, Helle, Rasmus, Heine), DON'T READ ANY FURTHER!
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Ahem anyway.
Last gamesession was the Stone giant raid on sandpoint. Not only did my players succeed in defending the town against the raid, they also managed to do so in a quite spectacular(to onlookers) fashion.
In preparation for the attack, the Iomedae paladin had rallied the city defenses, posting them in tactically sound positions to defend the city. The heroes also prepared the local populaze for the coming siege, ensuring that everyone knew that in case the city would get surrounded, they were to flee into the sczarni smuggling-tunnels beneath the glasswork. The heroes had boarded up the Catacombs of Wrath so that no lingering foulness would harm the fleeing citizens. Naturally not everyone was gonna flee, and the players got to experience the stubborn few who lingered, as well as the bucket brigades, reacting to Longtooth's assault.
The heroics of the party was quite noteworthy, but most noteworthy were the actions of the 3 specific characters. Alkis Birdshine(Bard), Lorastine Littleknight(Rogue) and Skjordi Summerfell(Witch).
Longtooth basically slaughtered the party monk without effort and with the paladin tied up defending the northern wall (NPC sickness), it was left to the Bard and Rogue to stop the dragon while the witch tried to save the monk (who had used hero points to cheat death).
This resulted in a fight atop Tundarok Academy. Longtooth had landed at the base of the building, torching the Hagfish, waiting for burning people to eat. Alkis and Lorastine dimension door'ed to the roof of the academy, whereupon Lorastine(who is short-bow focussed) sneak-attacked Longtooth. The dragon, ascended, came to a hover over the academy, and covered it in dragonfire. Alkis jumped off the roof, and Lorastine's reflex save saved her completely. She then proceeded to fight Longtooth alone, from atop a burning building. Lorastine has miserable stats (several really sucky rolls on 4d6-lowest) and basically has negative con, so her HP is horrible. Luck of halflings kick in BIG time as I roll 3 1s and 4 2s during combat, and minimal damage on some of the dragon's weakest attacks. It still cripples her greatly, and Lorastine is forced to jump off the Academy roof, landing on the streets and then quickly hides. Alkis draws the attention of the angry dragon, and begins kiting it through the alleys, while Lorastine sets up a sniping point. Just as the dragon decides to stop playing the adventurer's game and just torch the entire block of buildings, it crosses Lorastines kill-zone and she sneak-attacks the living hell out of Longtooth, who takes to the sky, fleeing, swearing vengeance.
So, not only did the two stick-thin halflings fight a dragon, but they drove it off. Then as if that wasn't enough, the heroes(still just the 3 mentioned) intercept and engage Teraktinus. Skjordi breaks through his save with a glitterdust and Lorastine sneak-attacks him into oblivion in a matter of rounds, while he consistenly fails his saves against the blinding effect.
At this point, the raid had basically been driven off, and sandpoint was saved. When the heroes ventured into the tunnels to tell the people hidden that they could come topside, people that had been injured in the initial waves of the assault (quite a few) came to the temple of Desna. The acolytes and Zanthus did what they could prioritizing the worst injuries for healing, and sewing up people with lesser injuries. Along comes Skjordi the witch and asks if she an help. Zanthus accepts all the help he can get, whereupon Skjordi starts healing EVERYONE. Each and every person injured, one at a time, one healing hex for each, basically topping nearly everyone injured in the raid off on hp. over 200 people healed.
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Now I come to you all, asking for advice. How should I reflect the publics reaction to the heroes? They were considered great heroes of sandpoint and the land of Varisia BEFORE the raid. Now, with this little number, I'm stumped as to what to do. I -want- to let my players have this moment. They were pretty darn heroic. Even the NPC-sick paladin held the north-gate against the assault that came when the other heroes left the walls to defend the bridge, and the monk who was flat-out murdered by longtooth, will be remembered, not for losing, but for fighting the dragon, until it dropped her from great height, and she's STILL walking around ALIVE!?!
I would very much like to hear your suggestions. Help me reflect the public's reaction to these amazing adventurers. I considered having people think of the witch as a chosen of Desna(since she healed everyone, under the roof of the cathedral), but I don't know.
Ideas?
Thanks in advance.
-Nearyn
Tough call. I'm gonna have to go with this...
Probably a festival held in their honor, plus some memorial by this part.
@Icyshadow: Done! great idea, I'm definitely doing this. That would be a very nice middle-point in the campaign. It started with a festival after all :) I'll wait a bit, so they get to feel the impact this raid had on the city, the dragonfire and whatnot. Let them feel like the enemies they are fighting are the types that ruin entire communities in an afternoon.
But yeah, festival, definitely.
@darkwarriorkarg: Great ideas too. The party were given titles of nobility and rulership over Fort Rannick after dealing with the black arrow crisis. Presently the bard, Alkis, is the Lord of the keep. However, I think I'll definitely work Haldmeer Grobaras into this, maybe even use the Diplomatic immunity idea :)
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The one at once struck down
The two that fought the one
The knight who held the wall
The witch who healed us all
Sandpoint, beset, Dragon, Giant
"Oh flames! Peril! We're lost!"
No, most were hid, as heros planned
The monk, first paid our cost
The dragon's bite, and claw, and wing
Not all could he avoid
It bit, and shook, to ground did fling
Broken, a doll, ill-toyed
@Thornborn: Very good. The verses are very suitable, by all means continue when able :)
The paladins deity and church should receive a benefit from his heroic actions. Uptick in church membership? Iomedae should smile upon her paladin and bless it.
The witches patron spirit grants her some unseen reward? Im not sure.
Still, will unbeaten, he lived on
His heart unstilled, soul-fired
Til crept the witch, when dragon gone
With whispered words, inspired
And gentle touch, a silent song
Sung to the monk's fled soul
She set to right, what wyrm had wrong
And left monk, hale and whole
Above, the wyrm, past blooded fang
Spat gouts of hellish flame
Buckets filled, as alarm bells rang
And hand to hand they came
The one at once struck down
The two that fought the one
The knight who held the wall
The witch who healed us allSandpoint, beset, Dragon, Giant
"Oh flames! Peril! We're lost!"
No, most were hid, as heros planned
The monk, first paid our costThe dragon's bite, and claw, and wing
Not all could he avoid
It bit, and shook, to ground did fling
Broken, a doll, ill-toyed
Very nice!
I am about to start my players on RotRLs, but man this was inspiring to read. Awesome players! Rewards, yes, what depends on characters.
A big party, the nobility nod, and a letter of mark. Oh, and uptick in church member ship, that was a good one too. Is there a trait you could give to each of them that has some bearing or appropriateness to the recent events?
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Little things can be the key. Some that I've used.
1. Whenever they walk into a tavern, people buy them drinks.
2. Attractive members of the appropriate sex take a great interest in them.
3. They see children in the street pretending to be the great heroes and reinacting their famous battles.
4. Bards start singing of their exploits (see Thornborn's post for a great start).
5. They get discounts at local shops.
6. They pick up an entourage of locals who do minor things for them in town.
7. Local nobility and up and comers try to get them to attend various social events they are hosting. (parties, dinners, boar hunts, etc.)
8. Important groups ask them to join (like a mage's guild, Pathfinder Society, etc.)
9. They attract non-cohort level followers of the same class who want to be their apprentice. (1st to 3rd level)
10. People come up to them on the street and give them small tokens of thanks. Something of more sentimental value than monetary value - like a sweater they knitted, or a fresh pie.
Just a few ideas...
The simple folk, every hand full
With buckets full, then not
Yet wyrm would burn the town to shell
But for two'd been forgot
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! The arrows flew
As dragon drew his breath
And fire rained, that clung like dew
And promised charred black death
The fire drove the bard to ground
The rogue by chimney hid
The dragon struck, when rogue it found
She laughed, and rooftop-slid
The bard called out, the wyrm gave chase
Like kite on halfling's string
Around the building alleyways
Back to the rogue did bring
Another flight of arrows flew
Thwip! Thwip! and Thwip! They stung it
All biting deep, and wyrm withdrew
Shame on the wings that brung it
Also, point in the virtue chart if your are using it also will help when making the rune weapons.
Seconding Sowhereaminow, the changes in NPC behavior can be the biggest reward, focus on that. Guards, and other defender types, view the paladin as their archetype. Several people in town express now want to become witches. More halfings start moving into town to live in a place that has halfling heroes.
A distinct mechanical benefit is also a good idea. Perhaps there is a feat that reflects what the character was doing and could be given as a bonus feat.
A weaker, or full-on, version of a class ability. Say a favored enemy: Dragon for the rogue, but with a +1 bonus.(Or +2) Or, based off the oracle, lifting the bonus cap on the healing hex so her full level applies. Won't make much difference to the PCs, but fellow witches would instantly know that this one is special.
Or, invent some bonus of your own.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/achievement-feats/healer-s-touch-achievement
For the Witch?
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/achievement-feats/healer-s-touch-achievement
For the Witch?
Since the witch was using the healing hex, have it also apply to his hexes. This is a pretty potent ability.
I second giving the halflings a favored enemy: dragon bonus. Maybe a Con/Fort boost to the rogue to reflect the scars and a specially crafted instrument (super-masterwork, +4 bonus) for the bard given by the townsfolk as a token of appreciation would be in order as well.
For the paladin, in addition to having an increase in church membership, you could have one of the villagers request to become his squire. Maybe give him a free cohort that is a Herald Squire Cavalier, or a Weapon Bearer Squire Fighter.
Also, I love the idea of an epic tale circulating about the party. Thornborn, you rock for coming up with so many good verses.
The dwarf's defensive training for the paladin. He did hold a gate against giant attack.
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The one at once struck down
The two that fought the one
The knight who held the wall
The witch who healed us all
Sandpoint, beset, Dragon, Giant
"Oh flames! Peril! We're lost!"
No, most were hid, as heros planned
The monk, first paid our cost
The dragon's bite, and claw, and wing
Not all could he avoid
It bit, and shook, to ground did fling
Broken, a doll, ill-toyed
Still, will unbeaten, he lived on
His heart unstilled, soul-fired
Til crept the witch, when dragon gone
With whispered words, inspired
And gentle touch, a silent song
Sung to the monk's fled soul
She set to right, what wyrm had wrong
And left monk, hale and whole
Above, the wyrm, past blooded fang
Spat gouts of hellish flame
Buckets filled, as alarm bells rang
And hand to hand they came
The simple folk, every hand full
With buckets full, then not
Yet wyrm would burn the town to shell
But for two'd been forgot
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! The arrows flew
As dragon drew his breath
And fire rained, that clung like dew
And promised charred black death
The fire drove the bard to ground
The rogue by chimney hid
The dragon struck, when rogue it found
She laughed, and rooftop-slid
The bard called out, the wyrm gave chase
Like kite on halfling's string
Around the building alleyways
Back to the rogue did bring
Another flight of arrows flew
Thwip! Thwip! and Thwip! They stung it
All biting deep, and wyrm withdrew
Shame on the wings that brung it
Now other force beseiged the wall
Paladin cried, "Hold Fast!"
He would not let our Sandpoint fall
If only he could last
When giant came upon, and past
Though the wall-hero's heart wept
Just as he said, he did hold fast
And to battle-front kept
The giant through the streets did go
And swatted men like flies
As fabled, seven at one blow
Then the witch burned his eyes
She filled each orb, a thousand stars
A twinkling, merry vision
And halflings again served the cause
With swift tendon's incision
Giant stumbled, giant felled,
Giant roared in pain
And out rogue tumbled, triumph yelled
No giant rose again
The battle, won. Foes, fled or done.
We, Desna brought our fallen
Our broken, burned, harsh lessons learned
Soot ashes fell like pollen
The witch again. Would priest let in?
He would, if help might render
The witch began, and touched burnt man
What Power, life did lend her
She healed that man, and 'gain began
And over, and another...
Two hundreds, we. And touched all, she.
I's there. I _saw_ it, brother.
I'd not believe it, were I not
No hobbit shames a dragon
No man might rise, thrown from the skies
Such tales pour from a flagon
But it's all true, I pledge to you
The day that Sandpoint needed
The call went out, to all about
And these five heroes heeded
The one, at once struck down
The two, that fought the one
The knight, who held the wall
And witch, who healed us all
First of all.
Thornborn you are amazing. I'm so reading that aloud to my players come Sunday. Secondly to everyone else, you have some amazing suggestions and you've definitely inspired me. I'll likely use most if not all of your suggestions :)
Here's what I've decidedly to reward my players with mechanically:
For Jeffrey Starkmourne (Paladin)
For holding the gates of Sandpoint: Defensive Training(Dwarf trait), +1 sacred bonus on attack rolls and damage(Iomedae approves).
For Naelei Fadeleaf (Monk)
For fighting the Dragon head on, when nobody else dared to: +2 on saves vs fear, ignore first d6 points of fall damage.
For Lorastine Littleknight (Rogue)
For almost singlehandedly driving off Longtooth: +1 Con, Favored Enemy (Dragons 1)
For Alkis Fingal Birdshine (Bard)
For drawing the attention of the angry dragon, when his friends needed him: Raise hero point limit to 4, Ability to cast cure light wounds once per day as a spell-like ability.
For Skjordi Summerfell (Witch)
For her selfless efforts, healing everyone injured without asking compensation or demanding recognition: Healing Hex is Maximized when not used on self, +1 Diplomacy
What do you think?
Looks good to me. Each is useful, though not game changing, and distinct.
Perhaps with the monk, in addition to, or in place of, the fear bonus, give him immunity to the frightful presence of dragons. In the face of dragons, she knows no fear.
If the monk is a female, starting in third stanza, some pronouns need changing.