The story is that Jean-Claude Severe (npc) won a tournament for a lady's hand in marriage. The night before the wedding, an attack saw the lady kidnapped. Jean-Claude was a coward and was nowhere to be found and another knight (the PC who came in 2nd in the tournament) had to ride to the lady's rescue. as a result, the lord of the manor changed his mind. His daughter would not wed the winner of a sport, but rather the one who rescued her. Jean-Claude was socially humiliated. Now he wants revenge on the PC. What could he do?
Well this dude is basically a coward so we would most likely either resort to poison on the PC or attack/kidnap the daughter to get the PC to ride to rescue which would of course be a trap. Or maybe he would hire a bunch of dudes to try to jump the PC on his behalf. Or duel with the PC after having either messed with the PC's gear or attempted to slip him a mickey
Frame the PC for having the whole thing be a set up to win the lady after he only came in second, thus having the PC become a wanted man.
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Raid his lands, prove he's e better soldier.
Try to challenge the PC in other tournaments or various types of combat.
Allying with the enemies of the PC to get a chance to fight him.
Try to kidnap the lady -- who is, as he sees it, his rightful bride, and would surely be overjoyed to be rescued from the loathsome clutches of the foul villain who has carried her off.
Track down a witch or other powerful creature and promise his firstborn child's service in exchange for a love philter which he then gets the lady to drink.
Hire bards to sing songs disparaging the PC in question, especially in places where his lady is. Bonus if they actually use events from the PC's past to make their point. Has he done anything mockable recently? Alternately, he can hire bards to sing songs boosting him in hopes "his" lady will hear of it. No reason he can't do both, actually.
Go after the PC's friends and family.
Get a group of fellow knights together and go after the lady,s father, THEN come after the PC. Not the wisest course, maybe, but good foreshadowing and making the PC start to worry.
Get together a band of evil PCs and come after the player. When he is defeated and slain, rise as a horrible undead to continue seeking revenge on the PC.
Seduce the lady and smile inwardly when she bears a child nine months later. Fertility charms optional but recommended. Or just make the PC suspicious that he has done this.
You might also want to have an idea what the lady feels about the whole situation. Which of the two does SHE prefer? Maybe she wants the PC, maybe the knight, maybe she sympathizes with him and helps him but stays loyal to her husband. Maybe she convinces them to become best friends or something. Maybe she betrays the PC. Maybe she encourages him to kill this foul intruder on the sanctity of their marriage.
Maybe she's the one hiring the bards.
The story is that Jean-Claude Severe (npc) won a tournament for a lady's hand in marriage. The night before the wedding, an attack saw the lady kidnapped. Jean-Claude was a coward and was nowhere to be found and another knight (the PC who came in 2nd in the tournament) had to ride to the lady's rescue. as a result, the lord of the manor changed his mind. His daughter would not wed the winner of a sport, but rather the one who rescued her. Jean-Claude was socially humiliated. Now he wants revenge on the PC. What could he do?
Just a question, but if he's a coward how did he win the tournament?
Cheat to win
Son of the Vet, Jean-Claude us a tournament knight. He's never seen a real battlefield.
I would expect Jean-Claude to hire people to embarrass the PCs. It's fitting with the cowardice and temper of the character.
So far, Jean Claude has spiked their drinks with a powerful hallucinogen. The 2 PCs thought wizards were chasing them and stole decorative armor to ward themselves. They then ended up trying to break into the palace to warn his majesty of the wizards. The paladin got chased onto a trash pile by a mob if angry halflings who accused him of stealing one of their daughters.
The story is that Jean-Claude Severe (npc) won a tournament for a lady's hand in marriage. The night before the wedding, an attack saw the lady kidnapped. Jean-Claude was a coward and was nowhere to be found and another knight (the PC who came in 2nd in the tournament) had to ride to the lady's rescue. as a result, the lord of the manor changed his mind. His daughter would not wed the winner of a sport, but rather the one who rescued her. Jean-Claude was socially humiliated. Now he wants revenge on the PC. What could he do?
Just a question, but if he's a coward how did he win the tournament?
A tournament may be a dangerous game, but it's still a game; you could get hurt physically or just in the pride, but there's the chance of death is miniscule. Compare that to actually going into real combat where death is very possible.
I like the ideas of Jean Claude hiring people, also like him targeting the father. Mirabelle, the lady, does favor the PC. The PC would do anything for her, even walk away if that's what she desired.
Jean Claude is meant to be the 'thorn in the side' antagonist. He's never really tied to what the PCs are aiming for, but rather distracts from the mission.
Perhaps something with the temple? The PCs are an Inquisitor of Pelor and a Paladin of Saranae (Pelor's wife in the setting).