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Post by TheRedArmy on Jul 6, 2015 2:23:25 GMT -5
This thread will have a complete list of all medium quests, along with a link to the post itself. Every post will represent a full quest, with all full details included. Kidnapped by Bandits!
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Post by TheRedArmy on Jul 9, 2015 6:47:06 GMT -5
Kidnapped by Bandits! -Short Quest (2 days of work required) -Available to all players -Best types: Above-average WAR/CHA; Anyone
Quest Posting on the Forum - The well-known Xin family of Chai Sang. For many years, they have severed as able administrators and magistrates, keeping Chai Sang prosperous and generally a good place to live. Although a few had the corrupt tendencies and their terrible vices, Chai Sang was generally the better for their efforts. Now, the newest magistrate of the Xin family, elderly Xin Chan, had his only daughter, Xin Yue, kidnapped by the ferocious Snake Clan Bandits. The bandits have offered to return her for a price, but Xin Chan cannot raise the money required! Can you help him save the last of his line?
Quest Synopsis for the Mods only - This quest is relatively simple. The daughter, Xin Yue, was kidnapped and is being held for ransom - 1,000 GP. Unfortunately, Xin Chan has only 750 to his name. The PC must either find a way to come up with the missing funds, or else find a way to secure Xin Yue's safety and escape with her. If Xin Yue is killed, the bad ending is reached. These bandits are not fools, but are willing to listen to arguments if they are persuasive.
Appendix - This section is used as a reference to the people and places, if necessary. This information is strictly for the GM only, unless the PC asks directly and would have a reason to know the information.
Xin Chan - A Magistrate and quest giver. He's an old man who's just trying to do a job in a difficult time and care for his daughter as best he can. He understands the greed and corruption many have, although he does not feel the compulsion to use his office to his advantage. Is willing to make sacrifices for his daughter's safety. Xin Yue - The daughter, who was kidnapped by bandits. She was expecting to become Magistrate when her father passes, and was looking forward to the job. Although she's not unfeeling or selfish, she was expectant of the "perks" that come with being a Magistrate. She's willing to bend some rules or ignore some virtues in the advancement of her position and status, although she won't go too far down that road. The Snake Clan - A group of bandits that kidnapped Xin Yue. With the chaos in the nation, they have taken the opportunity to earn some gold on the side through villainy. That said, most of the bandits are ordinary people who gave up the chance for a normal life, and use their abilities to generally gain wealth from the wealthier classes. They rarely seek to actually hurt people except those they consider "privileged." Naturally that will include any PC. Many of them are actually decent people, who feel they have no choice but to resort to banditry to survive. There are 6 men total. Zhao Han - The leader of the bandits. He is a thoughtful, passionate man, who's been turned to doing completely villainous acts. He is more ruthless and violent than those under him, although he keeps his violence in check for fear of scaring off the others in his group. He may face a revolt from those under him if his more violent tendencies are revealed.
Part 1 - The Meeting
After the PC does just that - (note, fill in instances of [PC's name] with their actual character name in the boxed text below)
At this point, the PC will almost certainly accept, and Xin should express his gratitude, and then ask how the PC plans to go about resolving the situation. Of the possible choices, the most common ones would seem to be the following -
Use the gold offered by the citizens of Chai Sang to pay for Xin Yue's release - The 750 from Xin and the 250 from the city is combined for the full 1000 needed for the random. The PC will presumably take this to the bandits and make the trade, then return and finish the quest. Pay the remaining 250 gold out of their own pocket - If, rather than take the gold from the people, the PC offers to pay the missing amount from their own pocket, Xin is extremely grateful, and swears to remember this act for the rest of his life. The city is also moved by his selflessness, and reimburses the PC for the gold - this will be explained in detail at the end of the quest, and there is no need to mention it now. Negotiate with the bandits to let her go for 750 - Being the people here are generally honest folk, they can be easily swayed in this manner, requiring only a CHA check to succeed. Pay the full 1000 themselves - Like paying the 250 yourself, the entire city and Xin are deeply impressed by this act, and Xin Yue, when she discovers this act (guaranteed at the end of the quest, if the PC never mentions it), is also deeply impressed. This is important, because you will gain a special benefit if you can impress her 3 times. More on that later. The PC also gains 250 gold after the successful completion of this quest from the citizens, as a thank you for the PC's honorable actions. Attack the bandits and free Xin Yue by force - Xin Chan is against this plan, but will not force the PC's hand if he's insistent. He worries that Xin Yue will be killed right away before the PC can free her. In fact, that is exactly what will happen if the PC attempts this plan. Xin Chan insists that the PC should bring the gold just in case, but cannot force the PC if he is adamant about refusing.
For other actions that come up, the mod should improvise as best he can. Inform the PC he must spend a day of work to continue the quest. Once the PC confirms he spends a day of work, proceed to part 2.
Part 2 - The Exchange
If the PC beats these checks, include this information as well -
[Check - INT 50+] - They mostly appear uncomfortable - they attempt to look confident and hard, but they're worried, or perhaps scared, deep down. The leader is hard to read, you can't be sure what he's thinking. [Check - WAR 50+] - The knife at the throat of the hostage makes any rescue attempt near-impossible. If he's determined to kill her, there's no way to stop him. [Check - CHA 50+] - These seem like honest folk who have been forced into a bad situation. There are probably ways of appealing to their conscience - but the leader is an exception. He won't respond to things like that.
Now the PC has a choice to make. He must decide what to do. The following are the most likely options.
Pay the full 1000 - Regardless of how the PC gets the money, if he pays the full 1000 gold, the bandits release Xin Yue and go back into the forest. If the PC attempts to fight the bandits after he rescues her, go to Encounter A - Six on One. If the PC makes any attempt to appeal to the bandits' sense of honor "The people/I gave their/my money to free this girl, you prey on them!", you may go to Encounter B - A Plea for Honor. Negotiate for 750 - Performing this action requires only [Check - CHA 70+]. The PC offers and likely makes some reasonable argument "This is all the magistrate has, and it's more than enough for the six of you". At the behest of the others, the leader reluctantly agrees, and gives the girl back. The PC can, in fact, continue to try and convince the bandits to give up this life altogether. In that case, go to Encounter B - A Plea for Honor. If the PC attempts to fight the bandits after saving Xin Yue, go to Encounter A - Six on One. Convince them to release Xin Yue at no cost - The Bandits, no matter the approach the PC takes, will not be swayed by this, and he must perform some other action to proceed. Attack the Bandits in an attempt to free Xin Yue right away - No matter the method PC takes to do this, it will fail, with Xin Yue's death and the fleeing of the bandits. Proceed to Bad Ending - Failed Attack
The PC may take other actions not covered here - take note of the bandits' actions and the like, and determine the most likely decision to be taken by them in this situation. If the PC exchanges gold with the bandits, send them the following text -
Encounter A - Six on One
[Check - WAR 60+ or any Duel Skill]
This is the perfect opportunity for the PC to engage in some RP with Xin Yue. She's currently relieved and thankful, but she has some remorse about the men being killed. She remembers Zhao Han (the bandit leader) before he turned to crime - he was honest and likable before he turned to crime, and it makes her sad to see him in that state. All the same, she is impressed by the PC for his ability (Mods, take note of this). Special Note: If you fight the bandits, the PC gains no benefit for impressing Xin Yue if he selected to pay the full 1000 himself. Indeed, it does not impress her, because the PC gets his money back anyway.
Proceed to Part 3 - The Return.
If the PC fails the WAR check, proceed to Bad Ending - Failed Rescue
Encounter B - A Plea for Honor
[Check - CHA 60+]
If the PC gave the money first before convincing them, he receives it now from this man who spoke. At this point, the PC may engage in RP with this man, or Xin Yue as he sees fit. Xin Yue is impressed with the PC's ability to talk down these men (Mods - take note of this). If the PC brought the 1000 gold from his own purse, and is bold enough to give some amount of the gold he brought with him to the bandits, Xin Yue is impressed again (take note), and the bandits are deeply grateful for the PC's generosity. Xin Yue is relieved and thankful for your actions.
Proceed to Part 3 - The Return.
If the PC fails this CHA check, the bandits refuse to listen to him, and he returns the choice he was forced to make at the beginning of Part 2 - The Exchange.
Part 3 - The Return
[Check - Day of Work]
Inform the PC he must expend a day of work to proceed. Once this is confirm, send him this information.
At this point, you should have Xin Yue explain how the PC elected to deal with the bandits. Only a few lines are necessary. If the PC paid the missing 250 or the full 1000 himself, he is now reimbursed for 250 gold by the citizens of the city, who thank him for his service. Unless the PC outright refuses the money, he should receive it. Outside of this, his reward is based on the number of times he "impressed" Xin Yue through his adventure. These are the points he might impress her: -Paying the full 1000 gold himself -Defeating the bandits in battle -Talking the bandits into releasing her -Giving gold to the bandits after they release her
1 or 2 of these events should be common, but there is one way to get 3 - the PC must pay the 1000 gold himself, talk the bandits into becoming honest men again, and then offer them gold so they have money to survive. This is the only path outlined in the adventure. Although it should not be impossible to get 3 by doing something unconventional, it should only be given if the PC's actions match this level of respect and care for life.
0 times - He is paid 150 gold in reward, and receives the personal thanks of Xin Chan and the city of Chai Sang. 1 time - He is paid 150 gold in reward, and Xin Yue offers to aid you in political matters. The information is forgotten quickly, but is otherwise useful. Temporary +2 to POL for 3 days. 2 times - The PC earns 200 gold in reward, and gets +2 to POL for 3 days. 3 times - The ultimate reward. If you manage this level of reward, you get 225 in gold, and +3 to POL for 5 days. However, and alternative award if also offered. The PC may instead take a second offer - Xin Yue is so impressed with the PC, that she is overwhelmed by the PC's selflessness and feels greatly indebted to them. She says that if the PC accepts no other reward, she will offer her services to the PC for life - for a male PC, she proposes to be his wife, and to a female PC, she proposes to be a "companion" who will serve in her household. She will become a temporary NPC for 20 days (then she stops, saying "I guess I actually hate being a Magistrate after all"), after that, she continues to be an NPC the PC may wish to RP with or what-have-you, but she has no further mechanics in the game itself. If the PC accepts this reward, he forfeits all other rewards. Make sure the PC is aware of both options and their implications. "Adventurer" bonus - If the PC has the "Adventurer" Skill, he gains +75 gold, regardless of what reward he picks. This includes the "marriage" reward - Xin Yue offers it as a dowry of sorts.
At this point, the quest is successfully finished by the PC. Congratulate them for finishing the quest successfully, and thank them for their time and effort.
Bad Ending - Failed Attack
This is a catastrophic failure by the PC caused by attempting to rush the bandits while Xin Yue is still being held at knife-point, or something similar. Read the following text -
Presumably, the PC either decides to return to tell of his failure, either with or without the body, or simply abandoned the quest altogether. If they insist on trying to find the bandits, inform them that the bandits, due to superior knowledge of the terrain and outnumbering you, are almost certainly gone forever. Should the PC return to Chai Sang to inform Xin Chan of their failure, read the following text -
If the PC took money from either the citizens or Xin Chan for this quest, he returns it now. He receives no reward, and the quest is now over. Thank the player for their time and effort.
Bad Ending - Failed Rescue
This is a catastrophic failure by the PC caused by attempting to attack the bandits after rescuing Xin Yue, and failing the WAR check. Read the following text -
The quest ends, and although Xin Yue is home safe, the character is not welcome within Chai Sang. He loses a day of work as he recovers from the injures he sustained, and he loses either 100 or half his gold (whichever is less). The quest is now over for the PC. Thank the player for their time and effort.
Quest Information End
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