First level PC backstory: the PC is on the run after killing an Eagle Knight in Andoran. The PC is currently in Taldor, so he's come a ways.
Assume for argument's sake that the Eagle Knight was someone moderately important -- 3rd or 4th level, and of some middling wealthy house. Is it plausible for someone or something to be chasing the PC? The obvious limiting factor here is that for 5,000 gp the family could have the dead guy Raised. So, they're not going to spend that much money to chase the PC. But they might spend (let's say) 2,000 gp... they can't afford to bring Bob back, but they can afford revenge!
So, what might the Eagle Knights, or the family, send after him? In Golarion, the default would be Red Mantis assassins; this is a little OOC for Andoran, but not unthinkable if the family is upset enough. Or perhaps some sort of bounty hunter? The PCs are a party of 5 1st level characters, so a CR 4 enemy would be about right for a challenging encounter -- either a single 5th level character, or a team of one 4th and one 3rd. Is there a class/archetype that would work well as a bounty hunter in this context? There's the Slayer "Bounty Hunter" archetype, of course; are there others?
Thanks in advance,
Doug M.
Don't think ONE thing... think lots of things! If they're willing to spend even 1K in gold, that would buy serious spellcasting services, lots of hirelings, etc. Imagine: what if this petty family were the masterminds of the campaign?
PC kills bob and gets away. The nobles scrape together 1K and contact a spellcaster that locates the PC in Taldor, though not an exact location. The EK's don't have jurisdiction so the family puts out a bounty: 500 GP on the PC's head.
Suddenly there's a goblin chief that's interested, some disreputable ranger, a group of kobolds looking to score a big treasure for their dragon "god" etc. Maybe you even go so far as to have the nobles spread false rumors of "adventures" to lure PCs into their deathtrap dungeons?
I suppose making it a 5th level Sniper Slayer would be too much for a 1st level party...
If you killed the Eagle Knight in a way that makes raise dead impossible, like taking the head or cutting out the heart, Now you need resurrection, costing 10k and access a 13th level cleric. If it takes more days than the caster level or you hid the body, now they need true resurrection and 25k, so they would need at least a 17th level caster.
I'm not sure how many 17th or higher level clerics there are in Andoran.
1) This is PC backstory, and the PC is CG -- the Eagle Knight was a wrong'un (but nobody except the PC knows that).
2) No, I'm not going to send a Sniper Slayer against a 1st level party. This should be a survivable encounter. In fact, I'd like to emphasize that -- this bounty hunter should be piling on nonlethal damage or subdual spells like Charm and Sleep.
Doug M.
How about this: The Eagle Knight is running the bounty privately -- his family paid to have him raised, and while there are "Wanted" posters around Andoran nobody else is very interested.
But the Eagle Knight is tapping into his order's secret funds for pursuing criminals abroad (he convinced his superiors it was a deliberate strike against the EKs rather than a personal vendetta). He wants the PC brought to him so they can ... discuss matters personally. So he's got some "Wanted (Preferably Alive)" posters scattered around, working through some kind of neutral vendor type (maybe the Bank of Abadar, maybe a known thieves' guild, anyway there's a contact point.) So you could have almost any number of people trying to claim the bounty -- could be a recurring plot point for random encounters, and eventually tie into other campaign threads if the EK is willing to make some deals with the campaign badguys.
Try a pair of 2nd level monks who specialize in grappling and restraining captives (good excuse for nonlethals, and to use monks... maybe Tetori grapplers).
Try a 3rd level wizard (or sorceror) with sleep spells.
Try a couple of 1st level rogue sap masters. Maybe they try going after the PCs at night -- after all, for them 500 gp or 1K gp would be a great reward.
This is meant to be a one-off encounter that might lead to a followup levels later. (Or maybe not.) It shouldn't kill anyone unless the PCs are stupid, which of course is always a possibility. So, Mark's idea about a reward is out. (Mark, it's clever! It's just not a fit for what I'm looking for.)
I'm thinking a 4th level Calistrian elf... bard? Court bard? Who works as a bounty hunter and uses fascination, charm, etc. to get close to targets. She's accompanied by her henchman, a 3rd level Slayer. CR 3 + CR 2 is around CR 4. If these guys are 15 point builds with NPC WBL, and not super-optimized -- and they won't be; she's going to burn one feat on Calistria's Obedience, just for flavor -- a team of five 1st level PCs should be able to deal if they keep their wits about them. Especially since they're only after the one PC and are otherwise pulling their punches -- they're not lawful, but they are (mostly) law-abiding and they won't want to kill any PCs if they can avoid it.
She's CN and hott and Calistrian, he's N and very drab and nondescript competent. Together, they fight crime!.
Doug M.
It would be funny if your Bounty Hunter were a Hellknight.
There is a Bounty Hunter Archetype of the Slayer Class. They have special abilities with Dirty Tricks. That will allow you to debuff your PC in Combat without killing him and start transporting him back alive while the party can track them and plot a rescue attempt.
Bounty Hunter as one-off encounter for level 1 party:
1. Lone bounty hunter: CN F Half-Elf Hunter 5; either build as a Packmaster with 5 level 1 ACs or just give hunter a host of trained animals; this encounter focuses on the villain using Tracking skills and a cadre of animals to harry the PCs, catch them in the open and secure the bounty while the animals keep the others at bay
2. Small party: NE M Half-Orc Rogue (Thug)3, x2 NE Male Halfling Rogue (Sniper) 1; this encounter is a bit more urban but can also be an ambush in the wilderness; the Thug focuses on the bounty and the snipers pin down the other PCs from hidden positions; build the Thug with Bludgeoner, Cudgeler Style and have them deal 2d6 Non-Lethal plus Sickened to the wanted PC!
3. Big pack: LE F Kobold Adept 3/Warrior 2 (flying Mauler Rhamphorhynchus familiar), x5 kobold warrior 1; build Adept around Sleep spell, use of nets, and flying on his "draconic" mount; warriors can either be built around a single Teamwork feat or using Aid Another on Grapple checks; kobolds attack while their bounty is sleeping
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