tedcahill2
2017-12-07, 03:55 PM
So planned a small one off encounter where my players would come across a destroyed wagon, merchant and escort killed, wares plundered, etc. Around that same time they see a huge green dragon circling over the forest on the other side of the river, miles away. I established that the huge dragon appeared to be looking for something, as it kept circling around the same area.
Out of the corner of their eyes they (that made a spot check) see a figure come out of the water on the other side of the river dragging a sack behind them (it was dusk, they couldn't make out details).
They decide to follow the mystery figure (which I anticipated) and found a young green dragon pacing around a campfire. He'd set a bunch of small sticks in the ground which he had fashioned like stick figures. He was address his "minions" as though he were a supreme ruler. He spoke of his grand plans to one day rule over all mankind (basically just playing out a childish fantasy of his).
I had written out a few different XP and rewards depending on what they decided to do with the dragon.
Option 1: kill and steal treasure
Option 2: capture, steal treasure, return baby dragon to mama dragon
Option 3: sneak past/lead away, steal treasure
My players did something I did not plan for, of course. They captured the dragon, but left him tied up in the forest. They talked about returning the dragon to the mama, but decided against it. I had all these contingencies thought through, like if they kill the baby the mama would find out and hunt them down.
But since they left him alive, and seem to have taken a liking to the little fella, I will instead be introducing him again in a later game (spoiler, he will have a tribe of kobolds as minions, except they're cowards and will all flee as soon as one of them dies, leaving the dragon to curse the "heroes" and flee himself) It will be a super easy fight and is mainly a comic encounter.
So, what other stories of players doing absolutely unexpected things can you all share?
Out of the corner of their eyes they (that made a spot check) see a figure come out of the water on the other side of the river dragging a sack behind them (it was dusk, they couldn't make out details).
They decide to follow the mystery figure (which I anticipated) and found a young green dragon pacing around a campfire. He'd set a bunch of small sticks in the ground which he had fashioned like stick figures. He was address his "minions" as though he were a supreme ruler. He spoke of his grand plans to one day rule over all mankind (basically just playing out a childish fantasy of his).
I had written out a few different XP and rewards depending on what they decided to do with the dragon.
Option 1: kill and steal treasure
Option 2: capture, steal treasure, return baby dragon to mama dragon
Option 3: sneak past/lead away, steal treasure
My players did something I did not plan for, of course. They captured the dragon, but left him tied up in the forest. They talked about returning the dragon to the mama, but decided against it. I had all these contingencies thought through, like if they kill the baby the mama would find out and hunt them down.
But since they left him alive, and seem to have taken a liking to the little fella, I will instead be introducing him again in a later game (spoiler, he will have a tribe of kobolds as minions, except they're cowards and will all flee as soon as one of them dies, leaving the dragon to curse the "heroes" and flee himself) It will be a super easy fight and is mainly a comic encounter.
So, what other stories of players doing absolutely unexpected things can you all share?