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Killiak 
Here for a while
(3/6/03 3:44 am)
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Maps of the Flour Mill
It seems to me that an important part of the Homlett connection takes place in the basement of the flour mill. Now IMC, the tiefling Vacra was sent to meet up with the wagon at the moathouse, so Master Dunratt would know it all went well. She escaped from the PC's and they explored more of the moathouse and aren't done there yet, so the cultists have plenty of time. They got the wagon too, but no relics.
So; 2 things
1) Keep everything like it is and find me some maps of the flour mill basement
OR
2) Have Dunratt and his "associates" leave town and set up shop again in Rastor, along with Tal Chammish. Vacra will set up Dunratt's stalwart eye outside the moathouse and will take the remaining relics. Maridosen will give her the keys to the rooms so the other relics can be stolen (invis rules!)
In both scenarios, Maridosen is going to leave to, but not interfering anymore. "Jaroo" is going to frame the party with the murder of a drunk Xaod (cant have Palladins around, now can we?) I am all up for number 2, but it might make the PC's feel they are getting screwed over.
Any suggestions would be nice
Edited by: Killiak at: 3/6/03 3:49:37 am
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madfox
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 3:51 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Did the PCs take the relics or not? That would be the most important question to ask yourself, because if the cultists have the relics there is no real reason to stay behind except perhaps revenge. If the PCs have got the relics, the cultists (or at least all except Dunrat) would stay behind to come up with plans to regain the relics. Though if they have got any reasons to suspect the PCs know about their hide-out at the mill, they would most likely select a new hide-out. Of course, there is also the slight problem that they killed the miller. Important people like a miller can only remain missing for so long before the authorities get worried. So that murder in itself might force the cultists out of Hommlet.
As far as framing people for a crime, that is nice tactic to slow people down, but it will rarely lead to an innocent adventurer being convicted for the crime. There are simply too many methods to learn the truth. For example, most authorities would be immidiately suspisious if a murderer killed somebody face to face (so that a speak with dead or a raise dead would lead to a direct suspect) unless it was done in anger. After all, there is always the risk of divination magic and anybody planning a murder would count on that being used. Besides, magic also makes it way too easy to change appearance. So simply looking like the murderer, would IMO never be enough to arrest somebody (unless the authorities are looking for a scapegoat or do'n't care about being thorough). So you should ask yourself what exactly Jaroo wants to reach by framing the PCs and how he is planning to do it. I don't know the intelligence of Jaroo out of my head, so I don't know how many holes there should be in his story.
Edited by: madfox at: 3/6/03 3:56:58 am
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Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 4:29 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
The doppelganger is not very smart, but still Int 13 and he can use detect thoughts to see if he is missing anything. He is an experienced double agent
The PC's do have the scepter, the little thingies from the big statue, the torch of revealing and that scroll of the black cyst. I was thinking that if the PC's stay in the moathouse a while longer, Vacra will have placed the stalwart eye and is ready to steal back the items once they get back in town. I don't think Dunratt is dumb enough to remain at the mill now.
It might be an idea for the PC's to be framed for the murder on the miller.
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madfox
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 4:38 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Some time ago there was a discussion on an on the fly attempt by a succubus to frame the PCs for a murder in Siopharek's campaign, if I remember correctly. If it still is here, you might want to read it, because it included several things to keep in mind when framing people. For example, shifting the blame of the murder on the miller on the PCs might be difficult, because the miller is longer dead then the PCs are in town and he might actually know who killed him or he might never have seen the PCs. Remember, to frame somebody for murder that person still should have a reason to kill the victim. So you might also want to create the reason for the murder. You should also not forget the relationship between the PCs and the local authorities. If the PCs have a honorable reputation and if they are good friends with the authorities, it will be a lot more difficult to frame them then when they are hated and known trouble makers. In most fantasy settings the reputation is much more important then facts.
Edited by: madfox at: 3/6/03 5:05:31 am
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Siobharek 
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 4:59 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Yeah, I had a plan to frame my PCs. I received tons of great advice here.
In my case, the frame didn't go very well. The succubus charmed the party rogue and he spilled the proverbial beans. Unfortunately, the other PCs discovered it and it came to a somewhat premature showdown between the succubus and Victor on one side and the PCs on the other.
So most of teh investigation was handled off-camera, as it were.
Otherwise, I agree with madfox. The first and only priority of the cultists is the artifacts - including the bead of force! If cultists have lost the artifacts, there's nothing they won't do to get them back.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 5:04 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Well, with Xaod, that should be pretty easy. He will just see a party member coming towards him, most likely the rogue/wizard (doppelganger). I will have him ask Xaod to join the cult and fight for the dark side. That will trigger the Detect Evil as well as a fight. Have several witnesses about and we have a nice bit of RP here.
The rogue wizard won't use spells and that is what he usually does. Jaroo will say to elmo that he saw the rogue wizard run away, but the grove is on the other side of town an Jaroo doesn't go far. That's the mistake he will make. Ofcourse this will happen during the night so that nobody can vouch for their party member.
I need the time for Dunratt and Vacra to set up the theft as well as the recovery of the small statue. I'll have the rest of the cultists blow up the flour mill somewhere along the way. This will most likely take 2 days and then Dunratt can join up with the temple forces again, leaving his mooks to guard the Rastor approach. Who is he aligned with anyways?
Edited by: Killiak at: 3/6/03 5:08:42 am
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Siobharek
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 5:18 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
That sounds like a very good idea. I might suggest giving the doppelganger a poisoned dagger to be on the safe side. Otherwise, it's not that effective. Would it be possible to get a dagger the PC has been using?
Dunrat is allied to the Outer Fane. He is Naquent's subordinate and has his own little room in the Outer Fane (can't remember the area number).
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
 Infiniti2000
Here quite a while
(3/6/03 6:53 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Unless you use a modified Jaroo, the doppelganger will not be able to take out even a drunk Xaod. At the very least it would be difficult, and something I don't think a doppelganger would try. He has a very comfortable spot in Hommlet, and if the cultists are really packing up, he will not do anything now to ruin his disguise. In fact, it would be a good idea to keep him around for later. Dunrat, being from the Outer Fane, might realize the need for an agent in Hommlet in the future.
As for packing up, I'm not sure Dunrat would do it. I think the Stalwart Eye is a good idea, but he might lay in wait until the PC's move on to the Temple, for instance, then go in an clean out the moathouse (specifically getting the 3'x3' statue in the pit room). Having Maridosen give keys to Vacra to steal things out of the PC's rooms is a great idea, too.
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Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 7:08 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Yes, but I am a bit worried about the PC's going to the flour mill. They have found the journal of Geynor and might make a move for the flourmill.
Would it be an idea to have Nierethi take Dunratt in, making him an ally to the Cult in the process and have him steer the PC's the wrong way;
"I saw some odd people leaving the flour mill today! They looked like they were up to no good and wore ochre robes. They headed down the Old Road towards Nulb!"
Now that would be superb 
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Siobharek
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 7:13 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Why are you worried about them going to the mill? If they don't go there and find Dunrat's letter, they won't have the clue tok go to Rastor.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Infiniti2000
Here quite a while
(3/6/03 7:22 am)
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ezSupporter
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Exactly. Also, you shouldn't be worried about it. If you think Dunrat is worried about it, then that's another point. Why is he worried about it? Perhaps, they would vacate the mill, conveniently leaving the chest behind (it's not worth it only to be caught in the mill).
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Siobharek
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 7:33 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Does your grouyp have trackers? If they do, let the cultists get away. They'll still be able to track the wagon. Also, the miller's corpse will be found and he might give some indication of who killed him. That way, the PCs might get deputized to get them back.
Or.... as mentioned in the FAQ, Dunrat might be in the Nulb area, looking for Lareth.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 8:35 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
By the way; Dunratt is worried because these adventurers just wiped the floor with 8 CRM warriors, a bugbear and a grick........
I'll just make Dunratt forget the letter in his desk in the basement. He WANTS them to come to Rastor and taste the finest Tanbrosh-stew ever made 
Ah, the mind of the sly, cunning and evil (and friggin insane)
Edited by: Killiak at: 3/6/03 8:37:01 am
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Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 9:40 am)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
Ok, here's my plan;
When Vacra ran from the moathouse (taking the wagon), it was still morning. The PC's have gone down to the obelisk, but have had some "problems" there and rested for another night. In the meantime Dunrat & Co. have come back again and placed the stalwart eye near the moathouse. Then Vacra returned to the city (she is back around midnight) and is now with Maridosen in the Welcome Wench, awaiting the PC's return.
Dunrat and Co. have taken up camp a bit into the forest and are waiting for the PC's to come out, so they can take out the statues and whatever is left. The wagon is here also, so that might be interesting when and if the PC's spot the new tracks.
Vacra's mission is two-fold. She also has to lure Nierethi into the hands of the Cult, probably seducing him with money and promises of power. Dunrat's new hide away, at least untill he has the relics.
How I figure it is that the PC's leave the moathouse, Dunrat moves in. Comes back around evening/midnight and hides at Nierethi's, when Vacra is stealing the relics. The PC's might head off to the mill first, finding the letter and setting of a FIRE trap 
The next day, all hell will break loose ofcourse and then I will have Jaroo AND Nierethi claim to have seen a wagon heading towards the ToEE (Nulb). Maridosen might add a bit, saying that a man in Ochre robes came to her, asking for directions. When the PC's have gone, Dunrat will head the other way, towards Rastor.
Thoughts, comments and suggestions?
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Siobharek
Still here? Wow.
(3/6/03 1:52 pm)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
This is gonna be awfully brief, but basically you've got all the bases covered. It's gonna work. And if your players really think, they'll know to be careful in Rastor.
Just remember that Dunrat is due for a debriefing in the Fane when coming back, and he might not be in Rastor personally. Tal Chammish, however, will have plenty of opportunities to be given instructions.
Siobharek
...it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. |
Killiak
Here for a while
(3/6/03 7:19 pm)
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Re: Maps of the Flour Mill
It all went smoothly, but the PC's KNOW they need to head for Rastor after they have fixed the Hob Goblin problem and have checked Nulb. They just dislike having something undead running being their backs.
Their meeting with Y'dey, Rufus, Burne and Elmo went badly though. The leaders of Homlett were kind of pissed that the cult had risen again and demanded that the PC's give all the info they had and that they had to go and check things out .The PC's were just rude and disrespectfull and this just put Y'Dey boiling over. So it means that they and Homlett don't get along anymore. Just when I was going to over them a base of operations there. I guess rastor is going to be a bit more "friendly" to them then
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