Between Burnt Offerings and the Skinsaw Murders (spoilers)

[Vertra]

So I ended last session with the group figuring out the coin door and it opening up. From here it is pretty easy to assume they will be doing battle with Malfeshnekor next session and I honestly don't know how it will go. (Human Barbarian, Human Druid, Gnome Sorcerer, Dwarf Monk, Human Rogue all level 4). The Barbarian can probably put some hurt on malfy, as well as the sorcerer. The monk just recently took the vow of poverty so his Ki pool is stupid huge. The other two will probably be a bit frustrated. Assuming they do defeat Malfeshnekor and make it back to Sandpoint, I am at a loss as to what I should plan for.

For the most part I let the players do all the talking and discussion and I sit back and watch, I guess it is just my DM style. However, I want to have some scripted events prepared just in case I get the sense they are waiting for me to give them some direction.

I want to give the party some downtime so it does not feel like the campaign is too much of a sprint. My party likes to hang out at the Rusty Dragon pretty much all the time. The only NPCs they really interact with are Daviren Hosk the stable master, Hemlock, Ameiko once in a while, and Shayliss whenever the barbarian feels the call. It feels a little stale and I want to get them involved with other NPCs to make Sandpoint feel a little interesting. I guess i am trying to do here what I should have done after the initial goblin raid but was not prepared for.

Did any other DM have a situation like this? What are some ideas for introducing Sandpoint NPCs in an interesting way? What did you do between Burnt Offerings and the Skinsaw Murders?

[Belegdel]

A few things I've considered to achieve similar:

If the Sheriff is hard pressed, he might need the party to help breaking up brawls in the seedier taverns. Use that to introduce the party to some seedy but loveable characters in the Hagfish?

The local underworld are likely to want to take some measure of the party to see how their fortunes have changed. A staged bar brawl or the like to see how tough they really are.

Titus Scarnetti might try using the characters to get at Ameiko. Get them onside, to get her onside, to get hold of the glassworks? Then ditch the lot of them with extreme prejudice once he has the deed.

Ven Vinder isn't likely to be very happy about Shayliss doing anything with anyone, and as a respected vendor in town could make like difficult unless appeased by, say, making an honest girl of her. Nothing like a wedding to keep people busy(or running).

Shayliss herself might find herself more attracted to the underside of Sandpoint life and end up working for (or with) the Sczarni, just for giggles. Having the party find out and have to decide whether or not to turn her in for crimes might be interesting.

Cyrdak Drokkus from the theater is almost certain to want the party to help with his grand new show reenacting their heroic assault on the goblin stronghold! Might be an amusing way to riff off the actual events vs the tales the party might have told vs what Cyrdak considers "dramatic enough".

[Blue_Hill]

When I was running this AP for second time, I sent PCs to Magnimar between Burnt Offerings and Murders. They captured Nualia and some of her underlings alive and sheriff Hemlock wanted to send them to Justice Ironbriar. So he asked PCs to delivere prisoners to Ironbriar. I got to introduce Ironbriar (making revelation of his true nature lot more meaningful) and PCs got chance to make purchases in bigger city. So it worked nicely for story and for PCs.

[Vertra]

Well the absolutely demolished Malfeshnekor like he was nothing. Sorcerer using big spells + a monk with 8 ki points to spend on adding extra attacks sealed the deal pretty quick.

They actually brought back that giant helmet from thistletop and were negotiating with the mayor on having it mounted as a trophy somewhere in the city after selling it to her. I figure this might be a good way to introduce the Sczarni. They might steal the thing and frame the party for the deed. Just to make things interesting I might have the Skinsaw man start his rampage a midst the scandal to add further fuel to the fire. The party has never been to fatman's feedbag or the hagfish so this could be interesting.

As a side note, the party killed all of Nualia's henchmen besides Tsuto and Nualia herself. Tsuto has already been shipped off to Magnimar and Nualia will be shortly. How likely is it that Ironbriar would see these two as useful and stage their escape? Perhaps frame some local Sczarni which can in turn be traced back to the Sandpoint "cell" to send the party on a wild goose chase?

[Fu-Man Chu]

Another thought is to remember Katrine, one of the first Skinsaw victims the party will investigate is Shayliss' sister. So during one of the romps, you can have Katrine interrupt by accident and the sisters have a fight to introduce her. That makes the connection that much stronger before starting part 2.

I'm actually at the point right now, and tomorrow's session will be dealing with the aftermath of Thistletop. I've been RP'ing all shopping sessions, in that way introducing the various personalities of Sandpoint, and after all the loot they collected, that's a good way of bringing Sandpoint alive.

Need some scrolls and potions? There's the pillbug. Wands? well, you'll have to go see so-and-so for that.

Plus, I'm stealing the idea that they'll have to escort the imprisoned Tsuto to Magnimar for trial, where of course they will meet Ironbriar.

[Kalshane]

I'm getting ready to run RotRL and I'm planning on when one of the PCs visits the General Store, having them walk in on Ven Vinder reading Katrine the riot act, threatening to "hang you and that Harker boy up and skin ya both if catch ya anywhere near each other". Shayliss will notice the hero(s) come in and greet them (flirtatiously if the one who caught her eye is present) bringing Ven out of his rant. He'll mutter something that sounds like an apology to the PCs under his breath and wander downstairs, shooting one last glare at Katrine, who will promptly flee the shop while red-faced.

This should drop the necessary story hints that will come into play once the SSMs start, plus heighten the tension if one of the PCs decide to fall for Shayliss' rat ploy.