My PCs just finished Part 1 (Anniversary Edition in its german translation - great stuff, btw), and plan on going to Magnimar right now. That would not be a problem, but they stumbled upon Nualias notes, outlining her connection to the skinsaw cult in murdering Delek, and now they want to investigate that cult. The advancement track recommends 7th level after they reach Magnimar, they are currently 4th.
What´s more, I introduced Justice Ironbriar when he picked up Tsuto in Sandpoint (I intend to have Ironbriar be Tsutos father, btw), and he will return and pick up Nualia in Sandpoint - my PCs managed to catch her alive. So, they will accompany the man behind the cult (who has, of course, no intention of leading Nualia to the gallows) on his way to Magnimar. Now, Ironbriar would not be so stupid to attempt anything giving away his hand while on the way, with Magnimarian city guards and heroes who have been powerful enough to clean out Thistletop and catch Nualia against him, and Nualia being without equipment. But as soon as they are in Magnimar and he had a chance to notify the cult, the PCs will be under surveillance, and perhaps attack by seemingly random thugs (Ironbriar will not tip his hand this early, and so, have thugs hired by middlemen).
Now, I fear that the PCs will get in over their heads, and if I play the NPCs according to their intelligence (Ironbriar has a 14, quite enough for some planning, and he has a ton of connections on top), they might get into quite some things more deadly than they imagined.
Any ideas, advice, comments on how to handle that situation?
Is there any way to hurry the party into Part 2?
(Please bear in mind for the following, that I am AFB/Away From Books right now.)
For example, before they actually leave Sandpoint (or even the very morning that they intend to leave), the murders at the mill could be discovered along with evidence left by the culprit which points towards the designated object of obsession. While the sheriff and mayor don't really believe the PCs are involved (assuming that the party has behaved normally/decently), they might still be required to request that the party "not leave town". (Like in any cop/crime show.) Local law's immediate requirements probably trump any potential fuss kicked up by Ironbriar about losing his travel companions.
It works even better if the party is called away to the mill just as they are leaving, and Ironbriar has to make it back to Magnimar by a set time/date (social and/or judicial obligations). Ironbriar's forced to leave (or else be seen as acting oddly), and the party is sucked into the next party of the story.
Is there any way to hurry the party into Part 2?
Hm. I wanted to give them the chance to catch up on equipment and stuff, but maybe I will just hurry the plot along, as you suggest. In the course of part 2, they will have plenty of time to have "fun" in Magnimar. The scenario you set up there might work, OTOH, then they could not even leave Sandpoint to conduct their investigations. If I´m lucky, a former PC, a paladin from the Magnimarian city guard will return for a session or two, and might just be commanded to supervise the PCs - he happens to be from Sandpoint originally.