Scene Notes – C01.S03.03
Cycle 01 Shield 03 – Scene 03 – Notes
What happens in this scene?
Dawndra comes down from her room in The Cutlass.
Shent is there having a breakfast ale (which The Cutlass is becoming famous for)
He had to dock in Whitesails Harbor when he returned from this latest job this morning – seeing how Dragon Beach docks have been mostly destroyed. He came to The Cutlass to see if he could learn something about what happened. Rumors are already traveling about the white-haired giant at the scene. No one knows the actual story but everyone is assuming she had something to do with it.
Dawndra hires Shent – and can afford to with more than generous payment. She asks him to not only guide her to Tentowns but to stay with her during the competitions and then return her back to Luskan . His normal rate is 15gp /day and Dawndra is asking to retain him for a long-term – up to ~50 days (750gp)
Shent recalls working with Teacher Riandyl and offers a discount (where is he going to go anyway… until Dragon Beach is rebuilt…)
Riandyl gave Dawndra a Star sapphire (1k gp) to give to Shent for his services- (she feels she underpaid him previously) – backwrite this some… also – there seems to be more the story here… what happened between Riandyl and Shent? I probably need to develop an NCP sheet for both of them in order to tell this story
How does a trust work in D&D?
Maybe I need a magic item? Yet another magic pouch?
Actually – Nim already created something like this to transport goods. Only the recipient could open the bag safely. Anyone else who tried would lose fingers
Or maybe it is a pocket dimension with a temporary hold? What if Dawndra dies – does Shent still get full payment?
magical Escrow
Payment price and conditions are agreed upon
the coins or gems are placed in small box
on the top of the box are four slots to fit a coin
both sides of the escrow place one coin into a slot to signify the agrrrment is cast
the magic marks the identity of each
the box cannot open again until both parties place a second coin into the centrr slots
the coin itself does not really matter, any coin works… it is the person placing thr coin which seals or opens the escrow box
dawndra can place payment into the box, seal the agreement and allow Shent to keep the box until such time as she g feels he has held the agreement – then she simply places another coin on the second slot and Shent can open the box at any time by doing the same.
If Shent renegs… she (and only she) can remove the first coin to open the box one.
Shent has a stake because the box itself cost him, or would cost him to replace it.
From there… what?
Kleyt
While Dawndra and Shent are negotiating… Kleyt walks in and sits at the bar. It takes him some time to recognize that Dawndra is there but when he does, he hurries to the door.
Dawndra wants to find out where Kleyt keeps himself… She has no time right now to deal with him, and probably no idea on what that actually means… but she knows the truth is that he will continue to kidnap others for the Knout (build an LGFL for the Knout)
Perhaps Dawndra might hire the ruffian Drow she kicked ass on the day before to be sneaks and ferret out where the scoundal sleeps… Yes… that is what might happen…
But the rest of the day…
Shent gives Dawndra a list of provisions… it’s a market day!
I actually don’t much care for market runs… not sure why. Up until now, I have just thrown the event into the recap… “you went and purchased the supplies you need” and when something comes up the player can say “I bought this on the market run” and I call it good. Rarely will there be anything but ordinary supplies… nothing exotic or magical. And Dawndra has already been equiped with some magical things. Her Ice Pike being the big item – some pun intended.
So if the market holds no exciting items, how to make this scene interesting?
| 1 | There is some theif getting caught – and the theif is somehow connected to PC |
| 2 | There is another adventuring party shopping the market |
| 3 | A storm lands – a big bad violent storm where lives are at stake – perhaps an elemental is behind it |
| 4 | A merchant is slaughtered in broad daylight. PC witnesses |
| 5 | There is stand-off between a squad of soldiers and a gang of political rebels. Violence breaks out |
| 6 | A lost child is witnessed roaming from stall to cart looking for scraps of food. |
No. Never mind all the random ideas for now… Introduce a bad guy … another contestant in the Fray Games (but not known as such until the first round begins)
Perhaps a Half-Orc with a temper and a chip on his shoulder (her shoulder?)
“This is my campaigns Mage/shaman of tribe Manyarrow tribe. Her name is Yazga and she is Chieftains “Mother of his sons” since wife is to plain for tribal society”
Rebrand a bit… maybe?
Yazga is a great name though… and so add this to credits
Maybe lower challenge level a bit… No sense pitting a lvl 3 PC one on one against a lvl 7 vNPC…
Stones Throwdown is no magic and no weapons and no armor… but Yazga has a +2 strength
Actually… that reminds me… create some throwdown rules
Strictly unarmed and unarmored
Everyone can strike with fist or foot
Attack with Proficiency
1 Blugeoning + Strength (unless Monk or fighter with unarmed style)
The rest of the combat is shoves and grapples
If you can get a critical hit with unarmed strike – the shove or grapple happens with advantage
Resist a shove or grapple with either Athletics or Acrobatics
So most attacks in Stone Throwndown will be competition checks… Ath vs Ath or Ath vs Acr
There may be other opportunities… perhaps a charging shove can be redirected to throw the charger out of bounds. Seems foolish, but the rage of battle and so on…
What else?
I thought about giving the audience bags of oil to throw into the arena but how would that work? Would they target a favorite – making them harder to grapple and shove if oily?
What besides oil? How could the audience increase the likelyhood of a particular contestant to be omitted? To give them disadvantage on the shove or grapple contest?
Perhaps this idea is just too complicated for mechanics? I will put it aside unless something bright appears.
Back to Yazga
I’m not sure she is a mage… a barbarian?
She is connected to Many-Arrows – obviously then, she is from Silver Marches.
She is most at home with full-blooded orcs
Or is she a member of the Red Tiger?
Suspicious of the unknown, Red Tigers fought unarmed. Their favored weapons were tiger claws, which consisted of short wooden handles embedded with three sharp stone daggers. The hunter held the blades between their fingers like claws.
Like their snow cat totem beast, the tribe acted aggressive and solitary.
Maybe it would be fun to tie Yagza to Daelan from NWN. How does a half-orc become a Red Tiger tribe member? Daelan would have to have been Yagza’s Grandfather. Maybe Yagza is trying to gain acceptance into the Red Tiger and the Fray Games are the way she intends to prove herself and to honor her forefathers (Daelan was exiled by the tribe)
She carries Daelans Double-axe – as her father did
Amulet too? Amulet of the Red Tiger Tribe +1.
Featured in: Neverwinter Nights, Hordes of the Underdark
Race: half-orc
Alignment: chaotic good
Class: barbarian
Description: This Uthgardt barbarian remains tight-lipped about his reasons for being in Neverwinter. His services as a mercenary are for hire, but only for someone with the right coin and temperament suitable to this honorable half-orc.
In the original campaign, Dealan tells the story of his banishment from the Uthgardt tribe, leading to special item-recovery quests, as all henchmen in original campaign do.
Daelan was one of many adventurers to later answer the call to Waterdeep during the drow attacks in the Hordes of the Underdark campaign.
He is notable for his use of power attack and knockdown feats.
Location: Trade of Blades
Chapter One Quest: Daelan wants you to seek out a particular brooch, which you’ll find on one of the boats in the Docks District. As a reward for finding it, Daelan will give you the Amulet of the Red Tiger Tribe +1.
Chapter Two Quest: When you enter the Mutamin’s Challenge at the Green Griffon Inn on the North Road you will eventually meet up with a dwarf called Gorkan down to Level 3. He will attack you there and after you defeat him, he will drop a strange notched great axe. The axe was the one that the murdered Gorkan used to kill Daelan’s mother and giving the axe to him is enough proof that the murderer is no more. Daelan will upgrade his item to the Amulet of the Red Tiger Tribe +3.
Chapter Three Quest: Daelan will tell you another tale at Chapter 3, the story of the Uthgardt Ceremonial Spear. When Daelan finishes his tale he will let you know that he is in search for that Spear. The Uthgardt Ceremonial Spear will be given to you by Zokan Thunderer, the leader of the Elk Tribe, at the Elk Tribe Keep located near Fort Ilkard Homesteads.
So Yazga will go by Yazga the Red Tiger – even though she is considered an outcast from the tribe
She paints herself red with battle coloring – daily…
She is obsessed with her rights to be accepted by the Red Tiger Tribe in Silver Marches (although she probably never will)
She is technically a barbarian – level 3 – find a subclass to complete her
Now… in the market place… Yazga is there – also provisioning for the trip to Tentowns just as Dawndra is doing. Perhaps Dawndra selects a nice ice pick from a merchant and while inspecting it Yazga comes along and rips it from her hands “I need this” She is equally rude to merchants and anyone else.
I need some bigger event… like maybe one of the other customers takes offense to the point of a tussle and Yazga kicks his ass in a big way – showing Dawndra she is a force to be reckoned
Maybe Dawndra does not fight at all this scene… just rp and discovery and some foreshadowing of Yazga – who will probably try to steal her troll head on the last day of the Fray Games.
Frick and Frack – or something like that… Axe and Pax?
Yazga has two slaves which she bought from somewhere. Kobolds?
They run around behind her, carrying the things she says she wants and paying the merchants with coin.
Now for the other “party” – I don’t need to build them out much but maybe find a level 1 party and some random names. Who is going to take offense at Yazga to the point of blows? Probably another female… perhaps another Half-Orc
Mara Hornraven
Half-Orc Fighter
AC 16 HP 40
+4 1d6 +2 or 6 (*1)
+1 +3 +1 +0 +2 +0
Sentane
Human Rogue Male
AC 15 HP 30
+4 1d6 +2 or 6 (*1)
+2 +3 +0 +0 +2 +0
Vari Arenth
Hill Dwarf Ranger Female
AC 13 HP 20
+4 1d6 +2 or 6 (*1)
+1 +3 +2 +0 +2 +0
Henri Fiddlewright
Halfing Wizard Male
+4 1d4+2
Magic Missle 3d4
+0 +2 +2 +3 +1 +2
Penko
Tiefling Cleric Male
+3 1d6 +1
+1 +0 +2 +0 +3 +2
Bless, Cure Wounds, Bane, Healing Word
There… not a bad random party.
Where are they headed?
The Crags of Mirabar
They are on a quest to locate the lost kingdom of Grimmantle – which, they have been led to believe, still contains an unbreached treasure room.