So last week a PC died during the assault on Thistletop (I posted that story in the obits). This leaves me with a small problem now that the group suggests camping overnight in a watchtower (oh yes, I will warn them this is a bad idea). But if they do that, how can I allow the new PC to join the fun? I'd hate for her to have to just sit and watch. Any ideas?
Rescued/Escaped Prisoner of the Goblins/Nualia
Prisoner of Goblins
Wandering Hero
Reinforcment sent by Hemlock
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Have the new PC replace Orik and decide to switch sides when the group starts working their way into the lower levels.
Of course, when I had to do it I did what JohnHawkins suggested. Sgt. Oreseeker was on her way to Sandpoint for assignment when she was captured by Brathazmus and a goblin raiding party. Tortured by Nualia etc.
It worked out very nicely.
More information might help us add more detail. Some example bits:
How much of Thistletop have they cleared? If it's all but the static monsters on the lowest level then I don't see any reason for them not to camp in a tower and for the PC just to meet up with them. If on the other hand much of the below ground has not been explored then I don't see any reason should why you shouldn't drift into meta-gaming: "You don't have any idea how many more goblins or whatever are left and you should assume the survivors will harass you all night long - no one gets a night's rest, impaired spell recovery, no rest-based healing, etc. Further, Sandpoint is only a few hours away and you know the way now so you won't have to search to find it. Come on, people cut me some slack - going back to town is a good idea anyway and makes it a lot easier for me to incorporate <so-and-so's> new pc."
What is the new pc's class and background? Why is she joining the group? If the new pc is a ranger, then I could easily see a 3rd level ranger journeying solo to Thistletop to find the group. On the other hand, a 3rd level wizard? No so much.
You can have the new pc waiting to be rescued - there are even cells to put her in but then she's still sitting there doing nothing until such time the pc's manage to get there. And if she's escaped from the cells on her own at just the right moment, that seems even more contrived then simply hinting (strongly) they should go back to town. PC class matters here too - 3rd level rogue escapes from a prison cell = plausible; 3rd level fighter or cleric with dex of 10, no so much.
Seconding Tybid - if the player likes the idea, of course - planting the PC as a defected henchman of Nualia sounds great! (Perhaps the henchman PC is way in over their head, like Orik, and didn't expect to be working for a crazy Lamashtu cultist when they signed up). If the player is planning on the new PC to be a total goody two shoes they can be a double agent or something. Then you can have the "henchman" simply stumble across the sleeping players on a patrol, and roleplay out the defection/reveal of the double agent. The henchman PC can be given some private GM notes of backstory on Nualia, Thistletop, and the other henchmen (Lyrie etc) to disseminate to the players.
Of course that doesn't work if the PC wants to be a good-aligned cleric or paladin or something.
I also like the idea of putting the new PC in a prison cell. Assuming the PCs are close to OR are able to fight their way there with only 3 players quickly/without further death. They don't necessarily have to break out on their own, the players can rescue them. Just be sure to put their gear somewhere nearby so they don't have to run around defenseless.
Finally, if the players are too far away from the prison OR if you believe it will be difficult for the players to fight their way to the prison as a three man group, then I'd break character and tell the group to just go back to Sandpoint and rest and pick up the new PC that way. It really doesn't make sense to me to be resting in Thistletop if its still mostly occupied anyway. It's kind of like if a burglar broke into your house, wrecked the place looking for valuables, and instead of getting the heck out of dodge before the owners came back, decided to lock himself in a closet and take a nap. As if the owners would never check the closet in the next 8 hours! Kind of bumbling, eh?
Have the new PC replace Orik and decide to switch sides when the group starts working their way into the lower levels.
I think we can all go home, no one is gonna beat this suggestion, maybe if they don't want to make a character hand them Orik and say have it, this would be especially nice if they've played other APs and have run into any of the 532 other Vancaskerkins running around Golarion;-p
This stack of paternity suits says differently ;-p
You've been served!
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I love these ideas! They've dispatched Lyrie, Bruthazmus, and Orik, leaving Nualia untouched. One of the PC's is already secretly working for her, so she was expecting them. Now I've learned that the player might not even be present for our next session (the finale!!!) so this may not amount to much. Still, I love both ideas (PC as prisoner, PC as turncoat) and if either of them works out I'll post an update.