Scene Notes – C01.S03.02
Cycle 01 Shield 03 – Scene 02 – Notes
What happens in this scene?
The Cutlass is one of the more well-known taverns and inns in the sword coast – at least if you have read any of the Drizz’t novels. Lore says it is a dangerous place set in a dangerous place. I want to make that obvious in this scene.
I’m thinking a minor skirmish with some town thugs just looking to mug Dawndra – or harass her for being strange looking… both probably. Nothing really dangerous – just an indication that violence is common in this area.
Luskan is apparently known to have some Drow population – maybe use a small street gang of drow punks for the first encounter.
Dawndra is not going to ever turn murder hobo… but she does not necessarily feel a lot of remorse or even concern when she has to kill something or someone. She is never going to be the agressor the victimizer… The truth as she sees it… if she hurts or kills someone trying to victimize her – they deserve whatever outcomes they get. They should know going up against someone of her size and stature will result in pain. She is not ever cruel, but brutal is in her blood. Try to play this out some.
The Cutlass in on Dragons Beach – a dock known for pirates and other lowlife. Dawndra is looking for Shent to hire him as her guide to the Frozenfar. Perhaps Shent lives in Dragons Beach on his own boat.
Dawndra, like Roonoo, has some history with ship wrecks. She was found on the shores of Norland Isle as a baby among the wreckage of an unknown ship.
She will also be sailing, next cycle, from Fireshear to the island of Ruathym – and surely that journey will have its trouble. I don’t yet know what will happen in cycle three for Dawndra – but she will have to sail again to get there. Maybe I should use some of the Saltmarsh adventures in cycle three… keep the sailing thing a thing for a while and maybe Dawndra picks up some skills (I’m going to have to learn a thing or two about sailing myself)
Or maybe it turns out that Dawndra hates sailing? Maybe she gets seasick easily. Lets find out…
Hey Dice – does Dawndra get seasick easily?
16 – Even – Yes
So then… next question… how to I handle seasickness with mechanics?
Folks in reddit suggest it is like the poisoned condition
Here is a nice table – or rather… here
It gives several possible conditions based on Con Save and based on weather conditions.
So how to increase the sense of danger in Dragon Beach?
The Knout
The Knout is a gang of human slavers – or really just merchants in the slave trade. They pay gold for slaves which they can then turn around and sell to other – mostly Drow from the Underdark – but they have had ties to the Twisted Rune and others. They hire low-life thugs to snatch people and bring them to a secret location – somewhere NW of Fireshear – where they could be sold to slavers.
Somewhere along the Underdark map ?
Dawndra gets taken captive – or at least the kidnappers make the attempt. She, being unique as she is – tall, exotic, beautiful – is a prime target. Someone in the Cutlass recognizes her as a valuable capture right away.
Lets see how it all plays out.