big teej
2015-01-30, 10:16 PM
Greetings Playgrounders,
first, a warning to any of my players who may be lurking the forums without my knowledge, get out. :smallannoyed:
as for the rest of you. :smallbiggrin:
due to Significant Life Events, I have 2 days to write an adventure instead of 2 weeks. I'm rather pleased with how it is taking shape, but I seek aid and input on something I plan on implementing fairly early on in the adventure, mostly due to the 'neener neener' nature of it, and that I have not (at least not that I can call to mind) inflicted such an occurrence on my players before.
specifically, the idea of a shake-down/taxing of the players.
for context.
the party is/has traveled to an Archipelago nominally ruled by an old (age category unspecified) dragon (color unspecified). the dragon has set up numerous means of extracting wealth from anyone who comes through his island chain.
this leads us to my quandary.
the party will be sent through the "Customs" area (until I find a more setting appropriate term) as soon as they step off the boat.
there is ample security set in place, and I am prepared for this to turn into a brawl and/or chase scene should the need arise
I've only loosely sketched out the security measures of the Customs area, as I'm 1) hoping to not need it and 2) if it degenerates into a chase scene, I'm ad-libbing anyways.
there are numerous clerics of Loschaal*, they are mostly there to provide an air of legitimacy and to keep the violence to a minimum (people are far more accepting of Draconian** taxes/rules being handed down and enforced by people universally known for their neutrality and being sticklers for the letter and spirit of the law, than say.... Government flunky #57234)
- the clerics are essentially non-combatants, but will defend themselves with extreme-prejudice (all of the ones in the customs area are Cloistered Clerics and wield spiked chains)
- above the entire dock-area is a lattice structure of cat-walks, this structure is patrolled by the Half-Dragon offspring of Skulkar, ready to swoop down and deal with any trouble makers.
- patrolling the entire dock-area is a single Bluespawn godslayer (monster manual IV) it is meant to serve as a mobile reinforcement/fire support platform for the excise men, and as the first line of defense should anyone attempt to invade.
- numerous foot-soldiers/bully boys that help keep things turning.
*Loschaal is the deity of contracts, law, government, etc. in my setting
** no pun intended
the players will, one by one, be interviewed by a government flunky who will acquire whatever information I/they deem necessary (nature/intent of visit, approximate duration, do you have any magic items or weapons to declare, do you cast, etc.)
the Flunky(ies) will then attempt to extract as much wealth from the party as possible, (the dragon's official policy is NO LESS than 1/10th of any person's wealth, goods, or property. other than that, it is left to the individual flunky)
essentially, after obtaining a quick physical description of the party members (detailing the styling/quality of their gear, noticeable jewelry, spiffy items, etc.) the flunky's will attempt to charge/take/whatever term you care to use, between 300 and 600 gold pieces worth of "stuff"(coins, items, jewelery, etc.)
for discussion's sake, the party started with.... 1,820 gold pieces (IIRC)
my question is this:
how much/how thorough a warning should the party receive about the nature of the "customs area" and the amount of money they can expect to lose?
first, a warning to any of my players who may be lurking the forums without my knowledge, get out. :smallannoyed:
as for the rest of you. :smallbiggrin:
due to Significant Life Events, I have 2 days to write an adventure instead of 2 weeks. I'm rather pleased with how it is taking shape, but I seek aid and input on something I plan on implementing fairly early on in the adventure, mostly due to the 'neener neener' nature of it, and that I have not (at least not that I can call to mind) inflicted such an occurrence on my players before.
specifically, the idea of a shake-down/taxing of the players.
for context.
the party is/has traveled to an Archipelago nominally ruled by an old (age category unspecified) dragon (color unspecified). the dragon has set up numerous means of extracting wealth from anyone who comes through his island chain.
this leads us to my quandary.
the party will be sent through the "Customs" area (until I find a more setting appropriate term) as soon as they step off the boat.
there is ample security set in place, and I am prepared for this to turn into a brawl and/or chase scene should the need arise
I've only loosely sketched out the security measures of the Customs area, as I'm 1) hoping to not need it and 2) if it degenerates into a chase scene, I'm ad-libbing anyways.
there are numerous clerics of Loschaal*, they are mostly there to provide an air of legitimacy and to keep the violence to a minimum (people are far more accepting of Draconian** taxes/rules being handed down and enforced by people universally known for their neutrality and being sticklers for the letter and spirit of the law, than say.... Government flunky #57234)
- the clerics are essentially non-combatants, but will defend themselves with extreme-prejudice (all of the ones in the customs area are Cloistered Clerics and wield spiked chains)
- above the entire dock-area is a lattice structure of cat-walks, this structure is patrolled by the Half-Dragon offspring of Skulkar, ready to swoop down and deal with any trouble makers.
- patrolling the entire dock-area is a single Bluespawn godslayer (monster manual IV) it is meant to serve as a mobile reinforcement/fire support platform for the excise men, and as the first line of defense should anyone attempt to invade.
- numerous foot-soldiers/bully boys that help keep things turning.
*Loschaal is the deity of contracts, law, government, etc. in my setting
** no pun intended
the players will, one by one, be interviewed by a government flunky who will acquire whatever information I/they deem necessary (nature/intent of visit, approximate duration, do you have any magic items or weapons to declare, do you cast, etc.)
the Flunky(ies) will then attempt to extract as much wealth from the party as possible, (the dragon's official policy is NO LESS than 1/10th of any person's wealth, goods, or property. other than that, it is left to the individual flunky)
essentially, after obtaining a quick physical description of the party members (detailing the styling/quality of their gear, noticeable jewelry, spiffy items, etc.) the flunky's will attempt to charge/take/whatever term you care to use, between 300 and 600 gold pieces worth of "stuff"(coins, items, jewelery, etc.)
for discussion's sake, the party started with.... 1,820 gold pieces (IIRC)
my question is this:
how much/how thorough a warning should the party receive about the nature of the "customs area" and the amount of money they can expect to lose?