Tl;dr: I need some ideas for the excruciation and rescue of the Poison Pen.
Quick background:
I’m running a Hell’s Rebels campaign, we’re only a few sessions in and the PCs are level 2. My rebels are secretive, and finished some of the initial quests. I have already foreshadowed the Poison Pen through a few political poems in the early sessions.
I threw in a small scene where the PCs attend a theatre and meet some of the nobles. This ended with the bard discovering one of the Poison Pen’s poems had been placed in his pocket. My plan was he would be caught with it and have to talk his way out. Instead, he fled the scene (and kept going through the gates of Kintargo never to be seen again!). His companion NPC bard, Alaria, who was also at the theatre, was subsequently arrested as the Poison Pen, and now faces excruciation.
The PCs were surprised to discover Alaria is the Poison Pen (little do they know she is not!), and they are now determined to rescue her. They have decided to make a statement by rescuing her during her excruciation, at the same time revealing themselves to the crowd and announcing their mission of overthrowing Barzillai, hoping that word will spread and people will flock to their cause.
Although Alaria is actually a minor NPC, I think this scene is really important to our campaign. It will be pivotal in determining public opinion of the rebels (depending on their success and actions); the PCs’ opinion of the government (the punishment they mete out and especially if they kill Alaria during the rescue); and then how the PCs use Alaria. In a nutshell, it has the potential to set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
So my two questions are:
Can anyone think of a suitable excruciation for the Poison Pen? I think it should reflect the PP’s crimes. I was thinking a rope system which strains her as the torturers add ink or paper as weight (to reflect PP’s writings), and when she breaks she falls into reach of vicious dogs (bringing in the dog-housing idea). I’d like something suitably punishing and humiliating without being too gory – she shouldn’t die (since I’ve read somewhere prisoners are rarely killed and I have a backup plan of PCs rescuing her from slavery if they fail here).
Next, can anyone suggest how I can run such an important scene to be more than just combat? I’m very aware they are not powerful enough to go head to head with those present - dottari, a cleric of Asmodeus, a couple of dogs, and a few Hellknights. Some ideas I have are a few PCs hold off the dottari/Hellknights while others use skill checks to calm the dogs, undo the ropes/chains, perhaps incite the crowd. Basically I want this scene to take up most of the play session, so to be more than just combat. Also, there should be a real chance of failure, either with the PCS fleeing, or Alaria being killed during the attempt (although the punishment wasn’t execution I don’t think the officials will hesitate to kill her rather than let her escape).
Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Stealth night mission--have the PCs figure out a heist where they steal her at night after a day of public torture. None of the figures you mention have great perception checks.
Alternatively, you could run the forger encounter from much later in the series, and have them bluff their way to a prisoner transfer.
Have they already done the "Unsanctioned Excruciation?" It seems perfectly suited for what you want if they haven't. How much has been established about Alaria's arrest? Maybe she wasn't officially arrested but rather seized by overzealous Chelish Citizen Group agents. Maybe the whole event was a frame job by the CCG.
I would suggest sticking with dog-housing as the go-to excruciation method in Kintargo. It's the new Lord-Mayor's favorite answer and everyone should be anxious to curry favor by using it.
Thanks for the responses so far.
roguerouge, good ideas but the PCs are determined to rescue Alaria in broad daylight in front of everyone to make a statement, so the night time heist would be smart but they’re going for dramatic. Likewise they discounted rescuing her during transit. Originally I tried to set up this scenario like a heist, it’s how I would like it to play out rather than straight combat (coz a TPK is a real chance!)
Latrecis, I have based the setup off the Unsanctioned Excruciation but I figured a high-profile figure like the Poison Pen would likely be sanctioned. I am probably being lenient in not having Barzillai himself preside over it. I think you’re right that dog-housing is the best idea though and am now leaning toward that.
zimmerwald1915, from memory they have recruited a team of Freedom Fighters and the Info Gathering one (Performers?). As for Allies, they have Rexus; a vigilante-type NPC (usually leads the Freedom Fighters); and a Cleric of Irori.
Haha yes nice idea, I don't think it has crossed their mind.
The latest is I heard they are working on a plan involving Vanish and Obscuring Mists to whisk Alaria away while everyone is distracted. Not bad but I think they are somewhat optimistic...
I think you are right Llaeddra in this could really set the tone of the campaign if done right! It sounds like your group are going for the heroic option after being secretive, if it works they're likely to continue down that path - might failure make them even more secretive, and create a darker and more desperate atmosphere.
I think I would be trying to put in as many small roleplaying opportunities as I could, while slowly increasing the tension to make your PCs nervous.
If they've gone from being secretive to open, give them moments where they might just begin thinking they've made a mistake, or bitten off more than they can chew.
You could have members moving in the crowd overhearing the crowd's conversations - or perhaps interacting with the crowd, with pro/anti Thrune individuals perhaps. One of your group might be hassled by a guard looking to bully someone, causing a delay. A cart breaks an axle, blocking their primary escape path.
Since the PCs have chosen to go heroic, I don't know if Dog Housing is the best option. Seems a little slow, it's a process that takes days. Perhaps something more theatrical might please the players more. Something more dramatic could justify a big crowd of city dwellers on the first day - a chance to let your players have a big performance.
As such, I think it needs to be a bit of a spectacle. Something like your original idea after some other humiliations - perhaps the bard has to read bad poetry detailing all her crimes - crimes your PCs are responsible for giving them a guilty twinge.
Perhaps there's a period of traditional humiliation like being pelted with rotten fruit by groups of loyalists in the crowd - and one of your PCs is in the middle of such groups - what do they do when they are given some fruit to throw? Throw it? Refuse, and perhaps draw the ire or attention of the loyalists?
My PCs dealt with the Unsanctioned Excruciation by charging it in broad daylight much as you describe, so yours might be able to get some tips from them.
1. They had one of the PCs lure off several of the Hellknights, decreasing the enemy forces during the battle. Your players might be able to do something like this.
2. They brought an NPC ally with them (Setrona, though since you haven't met her yet as of book 1, Laria and/or Rexus would work) to assist.
3. Unbeknownst to them, a warpriest of Milani was hiding out on a roof under greater invisibility (so they wouldn't see who she was, as they had already met her without knowing she was a member of the Rose) shooting at the guards from above. She also stepped in to provide healing once since the party didn't really have a healer at that point.
You could also have the crowd turn against the excruciation if the PCs do well at rallying them, perhaps helping provide a distraction and forcing the guards to deal with the crowd in addition to the PCs.
Thanks Shinjo Todaro, those are really good ideas and something along the lines I was thinking.
Meraki, hopefully they think of trying to lure away the Hellknights, and getting the crowd on side. Both will help immensely.