Adventure design help - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Adventure design help

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
patmos
Mar 20, 2009 16:46:11 Hey guys I have an adventure that takes place in a town with a river next to it, The PCs need to catch/get on the trail of someone who has been poisoning the town water supply. So now i am in a pickle if he is poisoning the river it would just wash away with the current, and if you live next to a river it doesn't make much sense to have a well right? Anyone have a way through this plot whole I have worked myself into?
#2
the_antra
Mar 20, 2009 17:28:38 A couple of ideas:

- Is the river REALLY close to the city? Or like ten minutes away? If it´s close, but takes a small walk, a well is still very useful for everyday activities, instead of coming and going with buckets filled with water (those are heavy, you know?). ;)

- Maybe he is poisoning the river water with a small magic gem he placed on the bottom of the river. The gem constantly poisons the water, no matter how much water passes through it. That´s why magic is such a nice resource! Only by removing the gem, will the water return to its natural state.

- Maybe it´s an underground river that feeds the well of the city. He may have minions there throwing poison in the river from time to time. AND it also creates a cool scene for combat, in an underground cave cut by a river.

- Yet another option is that the river feed a small water system that spreads throughout the town, Sure the river currents are fast and the poison would just wash away, but when part of the water from the river enters the water system of the town, it moves way slower. The water would not be stagnant, but it would take a few days to clean the whole poisoned system.

Just some ideas. I hope they help!

Cheers!
#3
patmos
Mar 20, 2009 17:43:34 Yah the river actually goes right through the town which is now expanding to be on both sides of the river. I love the gem idea, but it won't wrok for the set up I have conceived but i am definately saving the idea to use somewhere. I think i am going to go wit hwater barrels for an idea, most Inns, workers, guards, etc need lots of water in a day instead of just get a bucket at a time, SO they would go to the river and load up on barrels in a semi regular fashion. So i can jsut have him poison those, it wouldn't need to get the whole town but it should work for what i need it. Thanks
#4
the_antra
Mar 20, 2009 18:09:38 Is there a bridge somewhere? He might have created a device that regularly poisons the river from beneath the bridge.

Also, he could throw the poison about the same time people fill their barrels (instead of poisoning the barrels themselves). I would guess that would be in the morning, and maybe sometime in the afternoon. The river would wash the poison away, but not before the barrels are full.

I think I will use a "poison the water supply" in my game too! Fallcrest is perfect for that!
#5
leowulf
Mar 21, 2009 1:56:14 In one episode of Thundarr the Barbarian, the townsfolk were sick because there was a tree dipping into the river. They moved the tree out of the way and the river was better again.

Maybe the scoundrel who is poisoning the town is an evil Primal power user who either created or altered a tree into a malevolent poisonous tree. The tree's branches reach into the river, spreading its venomous poison.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 patmos Mar 20, 2009 16:46:11	Hey guys I have an adventure that takes place in a town with a river next to it, The PCs need to catch/get on the trail of someone who has been poisoning the town water supply. So now i am in a pickle if he is poisoning the river it would just wash away with the current, and if you live next to a river it doesn't make much sense to have a well right? Anyone have a way through this plot whole I have worked myself into?
#2 the_antra Mar 20, 2009 17:28:38	A couple of ideas: - Is the river REALLY close to the city? Or like ten minutes away? If it´s close, but takes a small walk, a well is still very useful for everyday activities, instead of coming and going with buckets filled with water (those are heavy, you know?). ;) - Maybe he is poisoning the river water with a small magic gem he placed on the bottom of the river. The gem constantly poisons the water, no matter how much water passes through it. That´s why magic is such a nice resource! Only by removing the gem, will the water return to its natural state. - Maybe it´s an underground river that feeds the well of the city. He may have minions there throwing poison in the river from time to time. AND it also creates a cool scene for combat, in an underground cave cut by a river. - Yet another option is that the river feed a small water system that spreads throughout the town, Sure the river currents are fast and the poison would just wash away, but when part of the water from the river enters the water system of the town, it moves way slower. The water would not be stagnant, but it would take a few days to clean the whole poisoned system. Just some ideas. I hope they help! Cheers!
#3 patmos Mar 20, 2009 17:43:34	Yah the river actually goes right through the town which is now expanding to be on both sides of the river. I love the gem idea, but it won't wrok for the set up I have conceived but i am definately saving the idea to use somewhere. I think i am going to go wit hwater barrels for an idea, most Inns, workers, guards, etc need lots of water in a day instead of just get a bucket at a time, SO they would go to the river and load up on barrels in a semi regular fashion. So i can jsut have him poison those, it wouldn't need to get the whole town but it should work for what i need it. Thanks
#4 the_antra Mar 20, 2009 18:09:38	Is there a bridge somewhere? He might have created a device that regularly poisons the river from beneath the bridge. Also, he could throw the poison about the same time people fill their barrels (instead of poisoning the barrels themselves). I would guess that would be in the morning, and maybe sometime in the afternoon. The river would wash the poison away, but not before the barrels are full. I think I will use a "poison the water supply" in my game too! Fallcrest is perfect for that!
#5 leowulf Mar 21, 2009 1:56:14	In one episode of Thundarr the Barbarian, the townsfolk were sick because there was a tree dipping into the river. They moved the tree out of the way and the river was better again. Maybe the scoundrel who is poisoning the town is an evil Primal power user who either created or altered a tree into a malevolent poisonous tree. The tree's branches reach into the river, spreading its venomous poison.