101 Plot Hooks [Archive] - Wizards Community

101 Plot Hooks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
snakeman830
09-19-07, 07:40 PM This thread is just to see what kind of plot hooks everyone can come up with.

I'll go first.

The PC's return to town to find a crowd milling around the front door of a friend's door (the identity of the friend could be anyone). As they push their way through the crowd, they see two parralel lines running from corner to corner (diagonally) on the door. They were drawn in blood (if they somehow have a way of telling whose blood it is, it's their friend's) and are seperated by about two inches of blank space.

Inside, they find their friend's body lying on the ground, a neat cut drawn across his/her throat. Strangely, the place hasn't been ransacked. Indeed, the only sign something is amiss is the corpse in front of them.

If the PC's search for clues as to why their friend was killed, just list off normal stuff for them to find in the house, none of which is out of the ordinary. However, be sure to include a tattoo on their friend's right shoulder, if they happen to look for anything like that. Perhaps they've already seen it when you first introduced this friend. Remember how you describe this tattoo. It's important.

In the next town (after a night or two), another person is found dead. Their door is also marked by the two lines of blood. If the PC's investigate, they will find a similar set-up. This person has an identical tattoo also on their right shoulder.

At this point, the PC's should begin to make a connection between the murders and the tattoos, but another 1 or 2 accounts should help encourage them. Just be sure to space them out.

Eventually, have an attempt occor while the PC's are in a person's house talking to the target. The assasin is cloaked and appears from a shadow, moving far too fast to have been there the entire time. He quickly dashes forward, slitting the target's throat before he can defend himself, vanishing as he does so. He ignores the PC's entirely. If this doesn't get them investegating, nothing will.

Eventually, they will find the next target. If they ask the meaning of the tattoo, he/she will tell them that he/she and his/her friends (all of which the PC's know to have been killed) had stumbled upon a dark secret. However, he/she will not tell them what it is, unless they prove they're trustworthy. The best way would be for the PC's to stop his assasination.

This should start the PC's preparing. They have until midnight. (all of the other attacks happened at about that time.) They should be able to defeat the assasin (preferably capture, but they should have access to Speak With Dead by now), but not before he manages to strike a lethal blow against his target.

As the target lays dying, he tells the PC's to take his tattoo. Amazingly, the tattoos peel right off. Although the PC's don't know it yet, the tattoos are the key to safely passing through an area they will encounter later (that's your decision to deal with).

The assasin, if interogated, will tell what's going on, though perhaps he will need persuasion. The assasin has a +X vanishing dagger in addition to any other treasure.

From there, you make up the rest.
Talisman
09-20-07, 12:20 AM I plan to use this as a campiagn starter...

The PCs are at a castle for whatever reason. This may be the royal palace, or merely the home of an important noble. The PCs themselves may be noble, or guests of nobles, or simply wandering [whatever] seeking employment.

There are festivities going on: a tournament, a great feast, perhaps a masked ball. Insert whatever fstivities you want here.

Eventually, the PCs are given a chance to go on a boar hunt with the King's ranger (a great honor). If this won't work, have them pursue a thief who stole something valuable and has a big price on his head. Either way, they head deep into the Royal Forest.

After a day or two, the PCs run into a troll backed up by a squad of bugbears. The troll, it turns out, is a sorcerer (!). Modify this gang as necessary to convince the PCs that they do not want to tangle with these guys. If necessary, the King's ranger can engage them, screaming at the PCs to head back and warn the King. Something is very wrong here.

The PCs escape the sorcerous troll and head back towrds the castle. OIn the way, the forest seems different...denser and wilder. There are more critters, as well, and they're bolder and more dangerous.

Eventually, the PCs reach the castle. Gone are all the festivities and merry-making from a day or two ago. Instead, the castle lies in ruins, and looks to have been that way for at least a century.

What happened?
JohnnyWeird
09-20-07, 10:18 AM 3. It's a WHAT?!
Players, after raiding a dungeon, discover that among their booty is a circlet of platinum. Inscribed in it is an ancient Oath central to the monarchy of the local large kingdom. Further investigation reveals that about a tenth of the loot acquired is actually the crown jewels of that nation. The ones being used are false!
Further complications set in when they realize that the circlet will find the 'true heir' to the throne, and begins to take an interest in the party's primary fighter...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
snakeman830 09-19-07, 07:40 PM	This thread is just to see what kind of plot hooks everyone can come up with. I'll go first. The PC's return to town to find a crowd milling around the front door of a friend's door (the identity of the friend could be anyone). As they push their way through the crowd, they see two parralel lines running from corner to corner (diagonally) on the door. They were drawn in blood (if they somehow have a way of telling whose blood it is, it's their friend's) and are seperated by about two inches of blank space. Inside, they find their friend's body lying on the ground, a neat cut drawn across his/her throat. Strangely, the place hasn't been ransacked. Indeed, the only sign something is amiss is the corpse in front of them. If the PC's search for clues as to why their friend was killed, just list off normal stuff for them to find in the house, none of which is out of the ordinary. However, be sure to include a tattoo on their friend's right shoulder, if they happen to look for anything like that. Perhaps they've already seen it when you first introduced this friend. Remember how you describe this tattoo. It's important. In the next town (after a night or two), another person is found dead. Their door is also marked by the two lines of blood. If the PC's investigate, they will find a similar set-up. This person has an identical tattoo also on their right shoulder. At this point, the PC's should begin to make a connection between the murders and the tattoos, but another 1 or 2 accounts should help encourage them. Just be sure to space them out. Eventually, have an attempt occor while the PC's are in a person's house talking to the target. The assasin is cloaked and appears from a shadow, moving far too fast to have been there the entire time. He quickly dashes forward, slitting the target's throat before he can defend himself, vanishing as he does so. He ignores the PC's entirely. If this doesn't get them investegating, nothing will. Eventually, they will find the next target. If they ask the meaning of the tattoo, he/she will tell them that he/she and his/her friends (all of which the PC's know to have been killed) had stumbled upon a dark secret. However, he/she will not tell them what it is, unless they prove they're trustworthy. The best way would be for the PC's to stop his assasination. This should start the PC's preparing. They have until midnight. (all of the other attacks happened at about that time.) They should be able to defeat the assasin (preferably capture, but they should have access to Speak With Dead by now), but not before he manages to strike a lethal blow against his target. As the target lays dying, he tells the PC's to take his tattoo. Amazingly, the tattoos peel right off. Although the PC's don't know it yet, the tattoos are the key to safely passing through an area they will encounter later (that's your decision to deal with). The assasin, if interogated, will tell what's going on, though perhaps he will need persuasion. The assasin has a +X vanishing dagger in addition to any other treasure. From there, you make up the rest.
Talisman 09-20-07, 12:20 AM	I plan to use this as a campiagn starter... The PCs are at a castle for whatever reason. This may be the royal palace, or merely the home of an important noble. The PCs themselves may be noble, or guests of nobles, or simply wandering [whatever] seeking employment. There are festivities going on: a tournament, a great feast, perhaps a masked ball. Insert whatever fstivities you want here. Eventually, the PCs are given a chance to go on a boar hunt with the King's ranger (a great honor). If this won't work, have them pursue a thief who stole something valuable and has a big price on his head. Either way, they head deep into the Royal Forest. After a day or two, the PCs run into a troll backed up by a squad of bugbears. The troll, it turns out, is a sorcerer (!). Modify this gang as necessary to convince the PCs that they do not want to tangle with these guys. If necessary, the King's ranger can engage them, screaming at the PCs to head back and warn the King. Something is very wrong here. The PCs escape the sorcerous troll and head back towrds the castle. OIn the way, the forest seems different...denser and wilder. There are more critters, as well, and they're bolder and more dangerous. Eventually, the PCs reach the castle. Gone are all the festivities and merry-making from a day or two ago. Instead, the castle lies in ruins, and looks to have been that way for at least a century. What happened?
JohnnyWeird 09-20-07, 10:18 AM	3. It's a WHAT?! Players, after raiding a dungeon, discover that among their booty is a circlet of platinum. Inscribed in it is an ancient Oath central to the monarchy of the local large kingdom. Further investigation reveals that about a tenth of the loot acquired is actually the crown jewels of that nation. The ones being used are false! Further complications set in when they realize that the circlet will find the 'true heir' to the throne, and begins to take an interest in the party's primary fighter...