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The party was given a large sum of gold (more than the party had combined) to protect multiple characters from an employer who owns a lot of land and has an army at their disposal. The reason is because that person is an informant who works with many different spys in a network. The problem was that the informant is an a**hole for lack of better word. One of the party members slit his throat in the middle of the night and tried to feign innocence. How would the employer react when they learn that his informant, who was worth the large sum of gold. I did not anticipate this happening.
Look up "medieval executions", that should give you some idea...
Ok, let me see if I follow correctly. The party was hired by their employer to protect a number of people, one of them whom is a valuable (if rude) informant. One of the party members slits his throat in the middle of the night. Now the question is how should the employer react when he learns the informant is dead, is that correct?
My main question here is (besides the possibility of getting the informant raised if resurrection is available in your game) how have the rest of the party reacted. If they hand over the killer, that would be a lot different than if they protected him. Regardless though, they can probably expect to lose their commission and possibly face some legal ramifications for negligence at the least.
"Tried" to feign innocence? That seems to imply that he failed. If he hasn't outright failed yet, then I would turn this into an investigation that the PCs need to throw suspicion onto others.
If he has failed already, I would probably have public execution of the PC who killed the informant (unless s/he escapes). Then have the other PCs swear fealty or what have you. The employer would keep a close eye on the party for a considerable amount of time and send them on missions that are almost certain death.
you have several options, as I see it:
1)TPK
2)They failed to keep him safe, the gold is forfeit, their reputations are ruined, and they can't get jobs from anyone within 100 miles because of how they screwed up (opportunity to re-locate, less the costs of doing so, and start fresh, having to live down the rumors that follow them)
3)The employer knows very well what kind of ass-hat the informant was, and might be forgiving... _if_ the party can replace him as the employer's informants among the enemy
4)As 3, but the employer manipulated the situation, knowing they'd end up killing the guy themselves, to help build a cover for them to get in good with the enemy. They have to use the opportunity to accomplish something for the employer, even while they are being hunted by his men for killing the guy.
5) some combination of the above (throat-slitter gets executed for treason, the rest of the group gets banished, etc.)
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Ok, let me see if I follow correctly. The party was hired by their employer to protect a number of people, one of them whom is a valuable (if rude) informant. One of the party members slits his throat in the middle of the night. Now the question is how should the employer react when he learns the informant is dead, is that correct?
My main question here is (besides the possibility of getting the informant raised if resurrection is available in your game) how have the rest of the party reacted. If they hand over the killer, that would be a lot different than if they protected him. Regardless though, they can probably expect to lose their commission and possibly face some legal ramifications for negligence at the least.
Sadly the majority of the party will listen to the more experienced roleplayer, but that has to do with the fact that 2 of them are new to role-playing. The third party member is very chaotic, and it will be revealed how they act the next time they game, because it happened at the end of the session. There were multiple people that came on board with them, but only the "valuable" one was killed. So, there were more people who were around that knew ab
eh, turn it around. Suddenly the threat they have to contend with is their new found enemy and former employer. Maybe the "enemies" who they were supposed to protect the informant against are grateful. OR, at least not outright hostile, and perhaps willing to provide aid to the party after suspicions have been allayed.
Its hard as a GM to deal with players that destroy what you have planned with a single action... Its the mark of a good GM to roll with the punches and make a story out of it. I know it sucks, because you might end up throwing out a notebook of notes and plans, but the story (and its "protagonists", the PC's) takes precedence over GM frustration.
I generally refuse TPK as an intentional course of action. The GM has a job as storyteller and rule/dice referee. You can't do that if everyone is dead. Accidents happen, PC's get over their had, TPKS occur, but it should never be intentional.
Try to let the unexpected turns inspire you.
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you have several options, as I see it:
1)TPK
2)They failed to keep him safe, the gold is forfeit, their reputations are ruined, and they can't get jobs from anyone within 100 miles because of how they screwed up (opportunity to re-locate, less the costs of doing so, and start fresh, having to live down the rumors that follow them)
3)The employer knows very well what kind of ass-hat the informant was, and might be forgiving... _if_ the party can replace him as the employer's informants among the enemy
4)As 3, but the employer manipulated the situation, knowing they'd end up killing the guy themselves, to help build a cover for them to get in good with the enemy. They have to use the opportunity to accomplish something for the employer, even while they are being hunted by his men for killing the guy.
5) some combination of the above (throat-slitter gets executed for treason, the rest of the group gets banished, etc.)
I think I'm going to do a mixture between two, and three and what tiehunterog suggested. Have them give the gold back and swear fealty. That is if they don't get the hell out of dodge.
I could even throw in an inquisitor or something to go over some sort of military style trial.
Actually now that I have seen some good suggestions, I think the next session will be fun and interesting. Not in the fun way that they see it, but they might not object to swearing fealty and giving back the gold. That is if they don't do something stupid... Like think they could take on the main person if confronted verbally.
eh, turn it around. Suddenly the threat they have to contend with is their new found enemy and former employer. Maybe the "enemies" who they were supposed to protect the informant against are grateful. OR, at least not outright hostile, and perhaps willing to provide aid to the party after suspicions have been allayed.
Its hard as a GM to deal with players that destroy what you have planned with a single action... Its the mark of a good GM to roll with the punches and make a story out of it. I know it sucks, because you might end up throwing out a notebook of notes and plans, but the story (and its "protagonists", the PC's) takes precedence over GM frustration.
I generally refuse TPK as an intentional course of action. The GM has a job as storyteller and rule/dice referee. You can't do that if everyone is dead. Accidents happen, PC's get over their had, TPKS occur, but it should never be intentional.
Try to let the unexpected turns inspire you.
Agreed...this adds a great storyline/plot that can continue for levels to come...Assassins, Bounty Hunters, etc...The party will always be looking over their shoulders...