Plotting out what's going to be the biggest curveball I'm going to throw my players in my #Darkon campaign, which is the official introduction of Alcio Metus, and it's going to fucking destroy them emotionally.
It involves the lady Mayor, who they did like until they found out she's actually a manipulative bitch, and the guy they actually like, Marco, both dying by Alcio's blade.
The Mayor because she was ambushed and Marco because as soon as he realizes alcio is there, he uses his trump card against her, which is the force cage spell to keep her contained for a bit. He always intended to do this if he ever had the chance to run into her again.
I'm trying to invoke a deliberate feeling of helplessness for the players because Alcio is way too powerful for them at this level. But also not be a dick like my former DM.
Because they are currently level five, which is no match for what Alcio is (a vampire lord with modified stats) and so I think I'll have one round where they can see just how powerful she is.
And Marco is choosing to do this to give them a chance. I'm also going to have him send a message cantrip telling them to go into his desk drawer where they'll find letters explaining that he knew this was probably going to happen. I'm trying to give him some agency in his own demise.
I also just had a flash of inspiration when it comes to Azalin and his son. Irik (the son, not the NPC the players know) and in the lore it does say Azalin killed him.
And the NPC Irik the players know is technically both of those people, so he remembers both being the murderer and the victim.
And getting ready for the rug pull means setting up Priscilla actually working for Alcio which I have subtly been doing throughout.
She doesn't work for Marco and never has. They just assume she is. Marco sought them out on his own. She's also never referred to him and every time she has talked about her boss she has used "she" to refer to her. She's also been absent a lot on special missions so next session they'll find a note to her mom explaining as much.
I also decided to give Gerta more to do next session so she gets this scene.
And yes, making the golden dragon look like a dog is a reference to the joke that two players didn't realize what Authrax is. And I imagine offscreen the two of them have been having fun.
Rosemary The Salty