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Hello paizonians,
It was a while before I made a new topic at this forum in regards to any problems. Perhaps that's a good thing? :) But, alas, some have occured yet again. Fortunately, I have some solutions for it, but I need some additional insight and perspective on the situation because I feel that I need one.
The last session left me mentally exhausted and the group went silent a bit. I feel that I have been playing with kid gloves for too long time and players started to act too selfishly, too uncooperative and too crazy. These decisions eventually led them to the current situation…
They successfully entered the center through the forged papers which put them in the role of Empire Agents. The main researcher and other personel didn't question their actions or even threats simply because PCs had the papers and those papers meant more to him then a threat, lie or anything else. Simply put, they were too intimidate by the Empire, to even try to suspect. Eventually though, PCs rouse fell and their fellow Tyrax, who was ill-tempered, couldn't stand it anymore after scientist started to explain how they „extracted the ingredients from the little children“. Fight broke lose, players and Tyrax started killing everyone. Tyrax eventually made a hole in the roof in order to provide exit, because entire complex was under red alert (think modern-like age complexes) and there was a massive lock-down. Unfortunately for Tyrax, he rushed out through the roof, only to striken down by a blue dragon, his hated foe and archnemesis. Building collapsed above, blocking the roof exit and characters started to plan their escape. This was the turning point where bad decisions were taken and everyone started to act on their own. Long story short, characters were faced with 3 options unless they could provide some other option (sandbox game) and those were: a) face the blue dragon on roof, b) face the ruler of Empire who miraculously showed up infront of the complex and c) continue further down into the complex. Of course, all fights were obviously hard. A huge blue dragon or ruler of Empire (party was moderately exhausted and compromised of 5x level 8 characters). Of course, two players decided to (alone) test their luck and deceive the ruler, but they heavily underestimated her thinking that casual invisibility and disguise self would work. She simply had too high Perception score. And here we come into a problem further on…
Character Hekoko, a sorcerer, ended up as Lady's toy (rule of Empire) and she forced him to take the special mind and body altering test drug. The drug (I am not quite sure that „drug“ is the right name here), changes the body physically from inside, forsing the person to exhibit magical abilities. The side effect is that you have 50:50 to survive and have to continue using it for the rest of your life. Player used 2 Hero Points here, so he survived. That on side, he is unconscious, trapped under debry and has 198 or less doses left before he dies. In return, he received 2 sorcerer levels from the drug's effect. At least this is what I came up with on the fly after session. Better suggestions are welcome, but these effects will probably stay as they are.
Character Genzo tried to create a distraction in order to help his teammate Hekoko by tossing entire bag of gunpowder-bomb-type which was sufficiently large to blow everything. This was, I am not sure, but… Probably least honorable and samurai-like act from him ever, since he practically decided to blow up Hekoko as well, but the player didn't know what to do. After it, he ran from the complex after finally seeing a chance for escape while invisible, noticed a mage looking at him, shadow of a dragon hovering over him while he is running across the empty wide hill and before you know it, he was a dragon meat. I plan to leave him alive, make him a blue dragon's slave with Geas and Bestow Curse effects and change his Edicts to either Ronin or Order of the Black Daimyo because his actions were simply too wrong for a samurai. Better suggestions are welcome.
With all that in this small and complex story, I have to somehow miracously put these characters back with the group, otherwise they are gonna detract from the next session to much. I am just too tierd for allowing them more attention, becausing they received way too much at last session with their crazy ideas, so I am not sure how to get them together under these circumstances and need some ideas in order to do so. Currently, the rest of the party ran of deeper in the underground where I plan to provide an easy escape route through the sewer system and several ways to delay their attackers.
That on side, I need some advice in order how to improve player cohesion, because currently, they are way too random and chaotic. If they can't reach a conclusion after 30 minute debate, then I feel as if they are forcing my hand which some of them did this last session.
I hope that this wasn't too long, but I wanted to keep it well informed. Thanks upfront for any advice that anyone can offer.
Adam