Harassment as Encounters

[Karoht]

So in an upcoming session, the plan is to harass the players via several encounters with a trio of Druids. The background is that the Players are responsible for pretty much destroying a town, the nearby Necromancers who have been giving the locals trouble actually had to come and drive the party away. The Druids of the forest are not pleased at all.

The concept is to have a series of escalating engagements, using some hit and run tactics. Start out as minor annoyances and work up to a considerable threat.
Party is 4 members all whom are level 7. A Barbarian, a Summoner, a Rogue, and a Monk.
Druid group is 3 Druids. One level 7-9, two level 3-5. The Druids will NOT risk their Animal Companions needlessly, so unless otherwise stated, assume that any encounter with this group does not use the Animal Companions (or the companions are hiding and waiting to help their masters should things turn sour for the Druids) unless otherwise stated. Animal Companions are not currently selected, though one druid (probably the level 9) will probably have a bird of some sort for scouting purposes.
Their motive is just to use nature to encourage them to leave the area, not murder them while they sleep. The Druids want to maintain their advantage of using the Wilderness against the party (and the DM wants to keep that theme where possible), and to slowly test the party. The Druids are actually somewhat afraid of one party member and are not sure what to make of the rest, so they want to see what everyone is capable of before they commit to a lethal engagement, and adjust their tactics accordingly as they go.

For reference, this game uses a combo of Pathfinder and 3.5.

Encounters described under Spoiler cut:

Wake Up
Party discovers that every single square around their tents for quite a distance is now Spike Stones as per the spell. Odds are, they will discover this the hard way, by stepping on them. But, there is a Rogue in the party, so hopefully he will wake up first and warn everyone. The second someone starts shouting to warn others, an Entangling Roots spell will be cast. The druids then flee immediately.
Yes, the Druids could just cast Spike Stones where their tents are while they are sleeping. Again, their motive is just to use nature to encourage them to leave the area, not murder them while they sleep.

Throughout the Day
Party is attacked by creatures via Summon Nature's Ally and maybe some Swarms, all of which will likely be 2nd Level spells.
Druids remain hidden or 'buzz' the party in the forms of Birds.
This may take place several times in one day.

Later that Day
Same as the camp story, except add Downdraft (two party members have wings) and Call Lightning to the mix.

That Night
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Next Day Nearing Noonish
Druids ambush using Summon Natures Ally.
Druids proceede to cast Spike Stones + Downdraft + Call Lightning + Aqueous Orb. Possibly Stonecall as well. Possibly Control Weather if Downdraft proves unsuccessful.

That Night
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Next Day Early Morning
Druids cast Control Weather before engaging party.
Druids ambush using Summon Natures Ally.
Druids proceede to cast Spike Stones + Entangling Roots + Downdraft + Call Lightning (Empowered by Control Weather) + Aqueous Orb.
Animal companions MAY be involved in this combat, likely to evacuate the Druids if need be.

From this point onwards, the party should be out of the Druids territory, or far enough away for the Druids to leave them alone for a while.


Is this too harsh to throw at a 4 Player Level 7 party?
Should they get experience for each of these encounters?
Any other Harassment suggestions?
Any other Druid spell suggestions?
Any item suggestions for the Druids?
Any Summon Nature's Ally suggestions? We're thinking mostly Wolves and Vermin.

[rweird]

Why nothing during the night, not being able to prepare spells is a good way to show that they aren't wanted, maybe a bear charges into the camp on night 1 and tries to smash there tents and stuff, maybe they use some spell to light stuff on fire the second night, or at least damage supplies (lack food with poison? Just take the food? Steal supplies [ropes, 10 ft. poles, etc,], maybe just take their loot, or at least some of it, if they try to leave quickly, leave the loot in the PCs path at the edge of the druids territory, if they try to fight it, keep it, maybe find someone/thing to offer to offer them their loot back if they leave).

[Thomasinx]

Why nothing during the night, not being able to prepare spells is a good way to show that they aren't wanted, maybe a bear charges into the camp on night 1 and tries to smash there tents and stuff, maybe they use some spell to light stuff on fire the second night, or at least damage supplies (lack food with poison? Just take the food? Steal supplies [ropes, 10 ft. poles, etc,], maybe just take their loot, or at least some of it, if they try to leave quickly, leave the loot in the PCs path at the edge of the druids territory, if they try to fight it, keep it, maybe find someone/thing to offer to offer them their loot back if they leave).

This is a good comment. Why are you not doing anything during the night? If the players realize that as long as they're in the druid's territory they are going to be continually assailed by summons every 4-6 hours, they are going to get out of there as soon as possible. (Especially considering how hard it is to chase down a druid thanks to wildshape and pass without trace...)

It sucks to be attacked during the night, i know. But seriously, the druids aren't stupid... why give the players a good night's rest, when their goal is to be harassing?

[Slipperychicken]

Stay away from summons (unless it's a fire or water elemental to ruin their night. Try sleeping in a soaked sleeping-bag :smallamused:), Druids have much more effective and non-lethal ways to troll people send a message. And you don't even need to attack to disrupt the PCs sleep. Attacking sends PCs into the boring hum-drum kill-mode, while simple trolling has a different effect entirely. You said the Druids don't want a fight, so why would they send summons to attack anyway?


Wildshape into something harmless-looking, approach the camp in the night, then cast Gust of Wind to blow all the tents, camping supplies, and the PCs (if they fail their Fort saves) away nonlethally. Bonus points if they make Listen checks in their sleep and hear the Verbal component "Fus.. RO DA!". Then the PCs spend a few minutes looking for the source, can't find it, and then have to collect their camp in the dark, set it all up again, and try to rest. Another Druid might set the now-blown-away tents on fire. Their sleep will be so interrupted it's not even funny.

Racoons steal their rations silently. Skunks stink up the PCs and their camp for months to come.

Set their tents on fire with Produce Flame (or even just a normal torch or match). Be sure to mention that anything flammable inside the tents take damage and are probably destroyed. That sends a damn good message.

Find something gruesome, like a severed head, possibly set it on fire, and leave it stinking outside their tents.

For true trolling, do one of these every hour or two, so the interruptions (each of which adds 1 hour to the sleep required to prepare spells) mean they'll never be fully recharged in the forest. This also means they'll be an easier fight in the end, since the PCs won't have their full loadout of spells per day. It also means the PCs will have to leave to replace destroyed mundane items like tents and rations.

All Druids will buff with Pass Without Trace and an innocent Wildshape form prior to trolling, and retreat once the trolling-spell is cast; they're just sending a message, not doing battle.

[Thomasinx]

The reason I said summons is because:

a.) Druids can spontaneously cast summon nature's ally, so they don't actually have to be prepared for it.

b.) Druids can be annoying and summon lots of small annoying things. Send in a flock of owls or eagles to drive the players mad. The goal isn't to kill them. The goal is to be enough of a 'threat', that all players wake up and get pissed off. Then the owls can fly away (or the summon spell can expire). Since the summons can fly, the 'safe distance' is decently large.

c.) You don't need to be very close with a summon. The druids can cast the spell and hide safely. It's a no-risk tactic. The last thing the druids want to do is get caught in face-to-face combat with a bunch of PC's who they are admittedly frightened by.

[Wise Green Bean]

If you can give the druids grease or prestidigitation somehow, that can be part of the earliest trollings. They get up in the morning and fall flat on their ass. Or they find their clothes are filthy. Or get animal companions to poo on their stuff during the night.

[Ketiara]

The nightly harrashment will also make them fatigued and with nothing to hit and focus your anger on the players will be frustrated... :smallbiggrin:
Much more effective than alot of small easy encounters. Nothing is more frustrating than hour after hour of no xp :smallsmile:

[Slipperychicken]

The nightly harrashment will also make them fatigued and with nothing to hit and focus your anger on the players will be frustrated... :smallbiggrin:
Much more effective than alot of small easy encounters. Nothing is more frustrating than hour after hour of no xp :smallsmile:

Not to mention their camp being destroyed, losing minor items, not even seeing the culprit (they might hear him), then having to detour back to town for replacement tents. It gets them out of the forest easily and without shedding blood -exactly what the Druids wanted in the first place.

It's certainly a change of pace from "Here's another gang of suicidally-angry [insert creature here] which can't be negotiated with!".