Introducing Nurah, Aron and Sosiel when the party is putting off meeting Queen Galfrey

[Kohilo]

Quick context. My party is purposefully playing Wrath of the Righteous as 'scoundrels with hearts of gold' rather than proper crusaders. We started our game in the Waller slum and ended up in the crusade to have crimes pardoned.

Keeping with that trope, the party is sure they'll be blamed somehow for destroying the Wardstone line when they used the Rod of Cancellation on the Wardstone fragment in Kenabres. (And saved everyone and became mythic...) They're afraid of 'The Man' and want to run ahead to get work done and prove themselves more, and left Irabeth, Aravashinal, Anevia, etc behind to speak highly of them to the Queen and set up a future successful meeting together.

They're basically running ahead to Drezen without the official start to Book 2

So.

That brings up the question of how to introduce the three NPCs Queen Galfrey normally orders to go with the party.

Current plan:
Modify Wardstone Patrol (the PFS scenario). The party heads to the farming town north of Kenabres on the path Irabeth directed them to Drezen. Rescues Aron (and other farmers). Instead of the scenario going on to a fort and rescuing their lost crusaders, have Aron ask for help going after captives from the farming village. Including his love, Sosiel. Have Nurah among the crusaders the party rescues, and one who insists on coming with them after being useful in the fight.

It feels good for setting up Aron and Sosiel, but Nurah feels a bit like an 'also-ran' in this scenario. Good enough to be worth sharing in case anyone else out there needs the idea.

Thoughts? Opinions? Ways to improve? Better introduction opportunities I might not have thought of?

[Jenner2057]

Well, Nurah is looking to

spoiler:

join the Crusaders to sabotage them.

, so if she recognizes the PCs as being on the run from the Queen, maybe Nurah tries to recruit them? Have her waiting at Valas' Gift or Vilareth Ford, discussing upcoming business with Umestil, the tiefling commander. With her excellent Perception, she might spot the PCs approaching and you could have a fun RP encounter for them. I'm assuming they'll turn down her offer to join but... who knows? Maybe they become Double Agents working against Staunton Vhane as they approach Drezen?

Just some thoughts. Best of luck!!

[Kasoh]

I'm not a particularly indulgent GM in this regard, but it might be amusing to have the party intercepted by Galfrey on the road for a chat. She is a 14th level character and has exceptional resources at her disposal, finding a bunch of 6th level heroes isn't that hard.

On the other hand, skipping the Mass Combat stuff isn't a bad call either. Its easy enough to have the PCs be the forward scouts. Clear the Vescavor Caves, cleanse the abandoned temple and etc.

In this instance, Irabeth would be the stand for the PCs leading the army and you could assume she manages the lead the army combat and resolve the personnel issues without trouble--or at least she would if it weren't for that pesky saboteur, which is driving Aenvia mad. So, when Irabeth arrives with the army, she would introduce the PCs to Sosiel, Nurah, and Aron. This puts the PCs in a position to see Nurah without Galfrey's personal endorsement. They might be in more of a position to spot her shenanigans.

Or, if you're going to skip the army stuff, you can skip Nurah and her subplot altogether. she's an interesting NPC, but not a necessary one.