Neverwhere and Favormaking: GM at a loss [Archive] - Wizards Community

Neverwhere and Favormaking: GM at a loss [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rechan
06-16-07, 04:23 AM All right. One of my players has read Neil Gaiman's novel Neverwhere. In it, there's a character who wants to imulate a character from the book, The Marquis de Carabas.

The Marquis basically goes around the underworld granting favors. People want to get something done, they ask a favor from Marquis, and he gets it done... in exchange for help.

In my game, the PC's history is the bastard of two Dragonmarked houses, aberrant marked and a Warlock. She grew up a criminal, and knows a few folk in the underworld. She's now working for a Detective Agency. Her desire is to "Get What's Coming to her"; to get dirt on basically, everyone, and further her pursuit of riches and power over people.

She came to me today at the end of the session and said "I think it'd be cool if I end up eventually having dealt with and a favor for or with every group in Sharn." Her boss is really just in the detective business for the love of solving mysteries, and supporting himself. So she would accept favors to steer investigations one way or the other, to "Keep away" from certain people, things like that.

For instance, today the PCs tipped off the Silver Flame to the tomb of the Lady of the Plague, whom needed exercising. Well, now her tomb is empty, and certainly a nice place for something to lair up in, especially given the taint from the ghost. She asked "So, would I know anyone who might like to lair in the place?"

So my question is this: how do I pull off this sort've thing? I don't want everyone from Daask to the Tyrants just walking up and saying 'hey gimmie help'. Anybody got suggestions here?
Shady314
06-16-07, 04:42 AM All right. One of my players has read Neil Gaiman's novel Neverwhere. In it, there's a character who wants to imulate a character from the book, The Marquis de Carabas.
The Marquis basically goes around the underworld granting favors. People want to get something done, they ask a favor from Marquis, and he gets it done... in exchange for help.
Oh yeah good book.

In my game, the PC's history is the bastard of two Dragonmarked houses, aberrant marked and a Warlock. She grew up a criminal, and knows a few folk in the underworld. She's now working for a Detective Agency. Her desire is to "Get What's Coming to her"; to get dirt on basically, everyone, and further her pursuit of riches and power over people.

She came to me today at the end of the session and said "I think it'd be cool if I end up eventually having dealt with and a favor for or with every group in Sharn." Her boss is really just in the detective business for the love of solving mysteries, and supporting himself. So she would accept favors to steer investigations one way or the other, to "Keep away" from certain people, things like that.
How would her boss feel about it? if she ends up dealing with every group in Sharn I'd think word might reach him eventually yes?

For instance, today the PCs tipped off the Silver Flame to the tomb of the Lady of the Plague, whom needed exercising. Well, now her tomb is empty, and certainly a nice place for something to lair up in, especially given the taint from the ghost. She asked "So, would I know anyone who might like to lair in the place?"
I might have this bite her in the ass when a month later the SF checks up on their exorcism and then deals with whatever supernatural beastie she's had move in.

This is hard to say though. I mean how useful is it as a lair? What sort of lair would it be? The perfect lair for a vampire is not the perfect hideout for the Boromars ya know? Plus it's got a rather unsavory reputation. I'd suppose Tarkanan seeing as how it's the tomb of the Lady of Plague. That'd be like a holy site to them.

On the other hand saying she got the ghost of the LoP exorcised might make them furious.

So my question is this: how do I pull off this sort've thing? I don't want everyone from Daask to the Tyrants just walking up and saying 'hey gimmie help'. Anybody got suggestions here?
Well obviously they should never just walk up to her. They will approach her surreptitiously and it will take a long time for her to build up a reputation and empire so grand everyone deals with her.

I'm having trouble seeing exactly how useful a warlock inquisitive is supposed to be though. It's not like she's a Sharn councilor or a member of the Trust etc. I'd think most groups will just handle their trouble themselves. And many favors are going to be a lot more unsavory than a tip on where to live.

Things could go out of control fast as rival groups start questioning her involvement with the others. Boromar wants to know what she was up to with Daask and vice versa. The Dreaming Dark or LoD isn't going to ask her for a favor they're just going to try to gain control of her if she becomes super important.

Perhaps it should merely lead to an increasing involvement with a dangerous group. Before she knows it she's dealing with Rakshasa or something. Then she can decide if this is exactly what she wanted or if she's getting in way over her head.

The Marquis didn't do favors for organizations if I recall. He was a private contractor individuals came to for help. That's not really too different from most PCs MO.
Rechan
06-16-07, 02:10 PM Hi Shady!

How would her boss feel about it? if she ends up dealing with every group in Sharn I'd think word might reach him eventually yes?

As long as it doesn't tarnish his reputation as an Inquisitive, he doesn't care.

Good point about Tarkanan. The place is pretty much just a round chamber with a deep hole, sigils of binding on the ground (Which, a skilled mage could convert to sigils for summoning and binding to hold whatever you summon in place), and the chamber itself is Desecrated. So any nasty undead mojo, evil critter, or cult would be appropriate here.

The cabal of powerful ghouls who rever the LoP and wanted her ghost free isn't going to like someone just squatting in their Patron Saint's tomb, either. Her ghost may be gone but hey, that's still her place, pal. So I can see some conflict go down between them and Tarkanan, the Silver Flame.

And I guess what she meant isn't that she wants every Org in sharn in her pocket, so much as she knows someone from every Org. Individuals in those groups.

For instance, I all ready have in mind a job from a Boromar.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rechan 06-16-07, 04:23 AM	All right. One of my players has read Neil Gaiman's novel Neverwhere. In it, there's a character who wants to imulate a character from the book, The Marquis de Carabas. The Marquis basically goes around the underworld granting favors. People want to get something done, they ask a favor from Marquis, and he gets it done... in exchange for help. In my game, the PC's history is the bastard of two Dragonmarked houses, aberrant marked and a Warlock. She grew up a criminal, and knows a few folk in the underworld. She's now working for a Detective Agency. Her desire is to "Get What's Coming to her"; to get dirt on basically, everyone, and further her pursuit of riches and power over people. She came to me today at the end of the session and said "I think it'd be cool if I end up eventually having dealt with and a favor for or with every group in Sharn." Her boss is really just in the detective business for the love of solving mysteries, and supporting himself. So she would accept favors to steer investigations one way or the other, to "Keep away" from certain people, things like that. For instance, today the PCs tipped off the Silver Flame to the tomb of the Lady of the Plague, whom needed exercising. Well, now her tomb is empty, and certainly a nice place for something to lair up in, especially given the taint from the ghost. She asked "So, would I know anyone who might like to lair in the place?" So my question is this: how do I pull off this sort've thing? I don't want everyone from Daask to the Tyrants just walking up and saying 'hey gimmie help'. Anybody got suggestions here?
Shady314 06-16-07, 04:42 AM	All right. One of my players has read Neil Gaiman's novel Neverwhere. In it, there's a character who wants to imulate a character from the book, The Marquis de Carabas. The Marquis basically goes around the underworld granting favors. People want to get something done, they ask a favor from Marquis, and he gets it done... in exchange for help. Oh yeah good book. In my game, the PC's history is the bastard of two Dragonmarked houses, aberrant marked and a Warlock. She grew up a criminal, and knows a few folk in the underworld. She's now working for a Detective Agency. Her desire is to "Get What's Coming to her"; to get dirt on basically, everyone, and further her pursuit of riches and power over people. She came to me today at the end of the session and said "I think it'd be cool if I end up eventually having dealt with and a favor for or with every group in Sharn." Her boss is really just in the detective business for the love of solving mysteries, and supporting himself. So she would accept favors to steer investigations one way or the other, to "Keep away" from certain people, things like that. How would her boss feel about it? if she ends up dealing with every group in Sharn I'd think word might reach him eventually yes? For instance, today the PCs tipped off the Silver Flame to the tomb of the Lady of the Plague, whom needed exercising. Well, now her tomb is empty, and certainly a nice place for something to lair up in, especially given the taint from the ghost. She asked "So, would I know anyone who might like to lair in the place?" I might have this bite her in the ass when a month later the SF checks up on their exorcism and then deals with whatever supernatural beastie she's had move in. This is hard to say though. I mean how useful is it as a lair? What sort of lair would it be? The perfect lair for a vampire is not the perfect hideout for the Boromars ya know? Plus it's got a rather unsavory reputation. I'd suppose Tarkanan seeing as how it's the tomb of the Lady of Plague. That'd be like a holy site to them. On the other hand saying she got the ghost of the LoP exorcised might make them furious. So my question is this: how do I pull off this sort've thing? I don't want everyone from Daask to the Tyrants just walking up and saying 'hey gimmie help'. Anybody got suggestions here? Well obviously they should never just walk up to her. They will approach her surreptitiously and it will take a long time for her to build up a reputation and empire so grand everyone deals with her. I'm having trouble seeing exactly how useful a warlock inquisitive is supposed to be though. It's not like she's a Sharn councilor or a member of the Trust etc. I'd think most groups will just handle their trouble themselves. And many favors are going to be a lot more unsavory than a tip on where to live. Things could go out of control fast as rival groups start questioning her involvement with the others. Boromar wants to know what she was up to with Daask and vice versa. The Dreaming Dark or LoD isn't going to ask her for a favor they're just going to try to gain control of her if she becomes super important. Perhaps it should merely lead to an increasing involvement with a dangerous group. Before she knows it she's dealing with Rakshasa or something. Then she can decide if this is exactly what she wanted or if she's getting in way over her head. The Marquis didn't do favors for organizations if I recall. He was a private contractor individuals came to for help. That's not really too different from most PCs MO.
Rechan 06-16-07, 02:10 PM	Hi Shady! How would her boss feel about it? if she ends up dealing with every group in Sharn I'd think word might reach him eventually yes? As long as it doesn't tarnish his reputation as an Inquisitive, he doesn't care. Good point about Tarkanan. The place is pretty much just a round chamber with a deep hole, sigils of binding on the ground (Which, a skilled mage could convert to sigils for summoning and binding to hold whatever you summon in place), and the chamber itself is Desecrated. So any nasty undead mojo, evil critter, or cult would be appropriate here. The cabal of powerful ghouls who rever the LoP and wanted her ghost free isn't going to like someone just squatting in their Patron Saint's tomb, either. Her ghost may be gone but hey, that's still her place, pal. So I can see some conflict go down between them and Tarkanan, the Silver Flame. And I guess what she meant isn't that she wants every Org in sharn in her pocket, so much as she knows someone from every Org. Individuals in those groups. For instance, I all ready have in mind a job from a Boromar.