Hi everyone,
Once more I humbly turn to these messageboards for advice.
A few sessions ago my group burned down the main ship at Eel's End and killed Devargo in the process. The other ships (the Goldenhawk, the Twin Tigers, the House of Clouds and the Dragon's Breath) were spared. If you are interested, you can read about it in more detail here.
Prior to the session, not knowing what was going to happen, I thought it would be fun to put the deed to Eel's End in Devargo's treasure chest. The Dwarf of the party ended up with it and he's been thinking about whether or not to go back and try to claim ownership of the remaining establishments.
I have some questions related to Eel's End post-Devargo:
1) What would have happened to Eel's End in the days after Devargo's death? Would the place have shut down or would it have resumed business as usual?
2) What about the Eel's End Enforcers, would they still be there? If so, who would be paying them?
3) I couldn't see any mention of this, but was Devargo under the employ of the Cerulean Society? If not, would he have somehow still been under the control of the Arkonas? (It would surprise me that any business could operate in Old Korvosa without Glorio's consent). I'm mostly trying to figure out who the PCs would have to contend with for control of Eel's End.
4) Finally, what kind of assurances would the managers of each of the establishments want to have from the PC in order to agree to have him become the new boss of Eel's End?
Well the place itself is economically intertwined as the ships and the docks are physically.
Eel's End was the enforcement branch of the whole turkey. Devargo made sure things ran smoothly and had the muscle to throw rabblerousers out the door. (Guide to Korvosa.)
The other boats relied on Devargo to keep Garrick Tarn and his tax lackeys at bay, too.
With Devargo out of the way, the rest of the establishments are operational, but left with their figurative butts flapping in the wind. This exposure means another force will do the job Devargo did. Maybe the Rat's Teat Boys? Scznarni?
The PCs could do the trick if they can earn the trust of the owners and most importantly make sure the Cerulean Society and the Guards are off their backs. Everyone want's business as usual.
As a GM you have the options to run with this how you want. You can make the PCs gaining control over Eel's End as painful or painless as possible.
Issues that can come into play:
- Tarn and the Guard want their vice taxes.
- Cerulean Society want's their extortion money.
- Rats Teat Boys try to move in on their territory.
- PCs need to secure a new drug connection for the Dragon's Breath.
- SOMEONE is mad you killed a crucial information broker/informant in Eel's End
Did the PCs or anyone find Devargo's body? Maybe he didn't die and want's revenge! Maybe he's some horribly burned undead. Maybe he can be a red herring regarding spreading the plague in Seven Days.
If your PC doesn't make a move, someone will definitely step in and take over, but it would be so much cooler to have a PC in charge. Olondir's suggestions are excellent, if your players want to rule the place, they should have to deal with some challenges.
Thanks guys!
@Olondir: Those are good suggestions. And I like your idea of making a list of the important groups.
Here's how the different Gangs and Guilds of Korvosa are organized in my campaign (Warning: I made some changes from what's written in the guide to Korvosa):
1) Cerulean Society -> Guildmaster Boule -> Glorio Arkona
2) Sczarni -> two families, one in Trail's End led by Queen Goldsmith and one in Thief Camp led by King Longshadow
3) Duster's gang -> Kynndor Thok (I didn't like the Marlessa as puppet master angle so I made her leader of the Catsdew Lofties instead)
4) Catsdew Lofties -> Marlessa
5) Wererats -> Girrigz
After the Quarantine:
6) Old Dock Gang -> Pilts Swastel
@MrVergee: I completely agree, it's much cooler to have a PC take over Eel's End but that it shouldn't come easy. The biggest challenge is to do it in a way that supports the overall story and doesn't derail things completely.
Keep in mind that, even though Devargo is dead, the crime isn't going to stop with him. I'd be very surprised if men from other interested parties don't show up the very next day after Devargo's assumed death, to take over. It may be that the PCs show a few days later (or so) only to find someone else is trying to run the place, and they have to fight him/her for control.
I'd suggest stating out Eel's End under the Ultimate Campaign downtime rules so the PC can have something to run, maybe even upgrade. I'd suggest giving him penalties when it comes time to earn coin, due to the flux from a new owner, and incursions by other parties (Arkona, Sczarni etc). Make him really have to work to get Eel's End up to where it was before Devargo died, and maybe after, he can start trying to expand to start taking territory from the other criminal elements.
Try to work this into the story as much as possible if you run with it. It could be a great alternate source of information and quests other than Cressida for the party.
For example:
- The PC might come across information about a sickness spreading before the plague really hits.
- He might have information of one of the other rival criminal factions diving for information from the ship that sinks at the start of Seven Days, and the party can ambush them instead of having to dive themselves.
- He might have information about people selling fake cures for the plague before Cressida gives them the mission. Alternatively, his men might even be hired as the muscle that guards the shop, or something.
The PC controlling Eel's End should also get several rumors and little tidbits of information dropped his way. This information could include anything, from plot elements to rumors of Lord (insert name) having an affair with someone.