The person playing the PC who is the ship's captain in my campaign has abruptly quit. I'm trying to think of an outro for his PC that will deepen the story.
I'm thinking about using the Red Mantis assassin NPC from the NPC Guide as the manner of his demise. I'm thinking of having her sign on to the crew posing as a pirate from Mediogalti, and then assassinating the captain. Don't know yet if I'll have her immediately try to escape or stay on board for a while and try to see if they can solve the case. My question is in justifying it.
The crew is on "Raiders of the Fever Sea". They killed Plugg at the end of "The Wormwood Mutiny", Scourge died tied to the main mast when a group of incutilis attacked the ship and one took over his body when the one it was riding was set on fire. They have made friends with Merril Pegsworthy and have kept faith with Rickety Hake. They haven't been to Tidewater Rock yet, though they have visited Firegrass Island and N'gozu. So, outside of Harrigan, they have no real enemies yet.
Harrigan is the obvious guy to trace it back to, But how could I do this believeably, since the game assumes Harrigan is unaware of them until they're spotted by Caulky Tarroon in Port Peril in the next book? Any ideas?
I suppose if this becomes untennable, I could always resort to "sahaugin got him", but I'd like to do something different.
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If it works go for it. This could be very interesting for the group, and if I was a player, I wouldn't know the difference in Harrigan knowing about them. It's plausable that Harrigan has different spies, and would seek to deal with this ship's captain.
Also it could be an attempted mutiny, or the PC's may want him gone if you have the missing player go "Blackbeard" on a crew member. In any event you are justified from deviating from the book if it makes sense and fun for the game.
You can go ahead and have it traced back to Harrigan, if it can be traced. That way, the encounter with Caulky Tarroon can still occur and have more bang for the buck. (Heck, I might have the captain of my group assassinated now just for that effect. <percolate, percolate...>)
Harrigan is aware of the PCs' mutiny before Port Peril.
If there are dockside tales of Harrigan getting taken by a bunch of noob pirates you can bet ol' Barnabas knows about it too. There was a series of posts in an earlier thread wondering just how the word had spread so quickly given sailing times and the time frame of the AP prior to Rickety's, but that's a whole different kettle of fish.
Peppery Longfarthing or any caster Harigan desires can likely scry on the ship. So knowing is not a big plot hole. Red Mantis seems too much urban intrigue and not enough pirate creepiness. I would suggest:
1- The black spot- have Peppery Longfarthing or the Norgober priestess from book 5. Apoear aboard and request parlay. Durring the conversation the hand the captain the cloth with the black spot. Variants could be a black spot appears on his skin like POTC , or have them hand him an actual black finger, and explain its a curse or mark for death from the Black Fingers who serve Norgorber, like Harigan. At this point he can drop dead, come down with a disease that can only be wished away, have Kroop say, "What devil has Harrigan dealed with (insert seamonster name here) will be on us before moon sets. Then the captain hops in the jolly boat to save the ship and crew.
2-Maroon the PCs- Harigan or Bonefist (cause he has a new protection raquet with the Rahamoodi) has learned the wearabouts of the ship contacted the captain and struck a deal betraying the crew. those who served in the mutiny are marroneed several days from civilazation as the now NPC captain sails away to be Harrigans or Bonefists lackey. The pcs have to cross the jungle/swamp to the port town of Sasserine. Now run them through a beefed up Savage Tide AP chapters 1&2. Which will in the end put them in command of a new ship. Then remind them Rickety still wants his money.