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This clue list provides an authoritative reference for every clue in The Vladaam Affair and where that clue can potentially lead the PCs in their investigation of the family.

It should be noted that this is in, fact, organized as a clue list, not a revelation list. For more information, check out Random GM Tip: Using Revelation Lists. (The revelations found here consist almost entirely of the node list for the scenario, which equates to the table of contents. If you want a revelation list, you can easily convert this clue list to one. Keep in mind, however, that Part 4: Gathering Information provides alternate vectors to many of the nodes in The Vladaam Affair.)

Some of the clues in The Vladaam Affair point to organizations or locations in Ptolus which are not part of the Vladaam deot. They are indicated with page references on the table.

Clue	Location	Indicates
Crate of arrows	Abandoned Temple	Guild – Dreadwood Grove
Dagger of the Black Sapphire	Abandoned Temple	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters
Black Lotus note	Abandoned Temple	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild
Black Lotus note	Abandoned Temple	Fleet of Iron Sails
Alchemy Order from Navanna	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks	Oldtown Apartments
Note from Kilana to Grui	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks	Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks
Shipping container	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks	Undead Shipping Warehouse
Letter from Guildmaster Essetia	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters
Bill of Shipping Right / Taxes Paid	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild	Fleet of Iron Sails
Unfulfilled Order for Poison	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild	Undead Shipping Warehouse
Shadow Detector Research Notes	Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks	House Sadar (Ptolus, p.99)
Inventory for Shop on Guilder St.	Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks	Alchemical Lab – Storefront
Shipping crates	Alchemical Lab – Storefront	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks
Shipping crates	Alchemical Lab – Storefront	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild
Shipping crates	Alchemical Lab – Storefront	Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks
Interrogation: Apprentice Alchemist	Alchemical Lab – Storefront	Curse Den – Guildsman District
Interrogation: Slaves	Curse Dens	Slave Trade – Ships
Interrogation: Slaves	Curse Dens	Slave Trade – Warehouse
Interrogation: Apprentice Alchemist	Curse Den – Guildsman District	Alchemical Lab – Storefront
Letter from Marcus Corellius	Curse Den – Oldtown	Curse Den – Rivergate
Note in Dreadwood Quiver	Curse Den – Oldtown	Guild – Dreadwood Grove
Imperium from Archmage Ustallo	Curse Den – Oldtown	Guild – Red Company of Magi
IOU from Korben Trollone	Curse Den – Rivergate	Killravens – Korben Trollone (Ptolus, p. 335)
Report on the Debt of Dilar	Curse Den – Rivergate	Slave Trade – Warehouse
Dragonscales set	Curse Den – Rivergate	Curse Den – Oldtown
Crate of Hellsbreath Rifles	Guild – Founders’ Workshop	Shuul Foundry (Ptolus, p. 127)
Other Crate of Hellsbreath Rifles	Guild – Founders’ Workshop	Abandoned Temple
Bill for Repairs to a Spiked Pit Trap	Guild – Founders’ Workshop	Undead Shipping Warehouse
Bill for Repairs to a Spiked Pit Trap	Guild – Founders’ Workshop	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild
Inscription on the Golden Disc	Guild – Red Company of Magi	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters
Letter from Gattara to Tiant	Guild – Red Company of Magi	Slave Trade – Warehouse
Letter from Gattara to Tiant	Guild – Red Company of Magi	Curse Den – Guildsman District
Reports from Crossing Street	Guild – Red Company of Magi	Oldtown Apartments
Tithe Payment of Rent	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Oldtown Apartments
Cutting from Seedling of Galiel	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Abandoned Temple
Thoth’s Incense	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks
Report on the Erthuo/Sadar Affair	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Fleet of Iron Sails / House Sadar (Ptolus, p.99)
Letter from Essetia to Ulloth	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Abandoned Temple
Correspondence Regarding the Hand	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Vladaam Estate
Letter of Thanks from Godfred	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Vladaam Drug Running
Sextant/Telescope Guild Mark	Guild – Surveyor’s Headquarters	Guild – Founders’ Workshop
Letter from Grui to Aliastar	Oldtown Apartments	Alchemical Lab – Bodyworks
Note on Alchemical Supplies	Oldtown Apartments	Alchemical Lab – Storefront
Letter: Founder’s Guild to Morsul	Slave Trade – Ships	Guild – Founders’ Workshop
Shipping Address	Slave Trade – Ships	Alchemical Lab – Shadowworks
Letter to Guildmaster Arzan	Slave Trade – Ships	Guild – Red Company of Magi
Threat Concerning Dilar’s Debt	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Curse Den – Oldtown
Secret Door to Slave Market	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Ennin Slave Market (Ptolus, p. 399)
Business of the Slave Warehouse	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Ennin Slave Market (Ptolus, p. 399)
Business of the Slave Warehouse	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Curse Den – Guildsman District
Business of the Slave Warehouse	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Curse Den – Oldtown
Business of the Slave Warehouse	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Curse Den – Rivergate
Dark Leaf badges	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Dark Leaf (Ptolus, p. 108)
Interrogation: Slaves	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Slave Trade – Ships
Interrogation: Slaves	Slave Trade – Warehouse	Ennin Slave Market (Ptolus, p. 399)
Letter from Aliastar to Arquad	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Oldtown Apartments
Request from House Sadar	Undead Shipping Warehouse	House Sadar (Ptolus, p.99)
Letter from Gathar to Arquad	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Dark Reliquary (Ptolus, p. 237)
Letter of Caution from Urasta	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Dark Reliquary (Ptolus, p. 237)
Vats of Holy Water	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Abandoned Temple
Letter from Thornai to Arquad	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Alchemical Lab – Poisoner’s Guild
Bill for the Ratling Arrows	Undead Shipping Warehouse	Guild – Dreadwood Grove
Drug Runners	Vladaam Drug Running	Curse Den – Rivergate

 Note: Most of the illegal operations of House Vladaam have a small chance of having a large shipment of money about to be delivered to the Red Company of Goldsmiths.

Go to Part 4: Gathering Information

Go to Table of Contents

Iristul Vladaam is not currently located in Ptolus, and is not further detailed here. Each Vladaam heir, however, is detailed with:

• A universal roleplaying template, as detailed here, for easy use.
• Connections to other factions, scenarios, or major players in Ptolus.
• Responsibilities, which summarize which aspects of the Vladaam deot they oversee.
• A schedule of their activities, as detailed below.

Along with any additional details that are relevant.

FAMILY SCHEDULES

Schedule information is given below for each family member. If a specific investigation is made into the schedule of a specific heir, a Charisma (Investigation) check (DC 15) turns up one piece of information plus one additional piece of information for every 4 margin of success.

Use the following table to determine what sort of scheduling information is gained:

1d4	Type of Schedule Information
1	Regular Activity
2-3	Recent Activity of Interest (random table)
4	Upcoming Planned Activity (random table)

Note that the same random table is used for both recent activity and upcoming planned activity. Some of these activities may be one-time events; others might be something that happens semi-regularly. (Use your best judgment to determine whether or not to repeat certain events.)

ALIASTER VLADAAM

APPEARANCE: Bushy sideburns down to his jowls. A man in his fifties. Six fingers on each hand (and six toes on each foot).

• GM Note: His eyes are completely black. (But he wears magical lenses to make them appear normal.)

ROLEPLAYING:

• Lacks ambition and drive, but makes up for it with a thirsting desire for knowledge.
• Extreme cowardice.
• Jut the head forward and down; the eyes looking slightly up at anyone standing across from him.
• Traces figures in his left palm with his right index finger.

BACKGROUND: Aliastar is on friendly terms with Navanna and has no interest in vying with her for control of the house. He manages only those concerns within the deot that he finds personal interesting (primarily matters of magic or alchemy or, lately, chaositech).

Aliaster helps his half-sister with her schemes by casting spells on her or for her in the simple hope that she will leave him alone and not actually force him into a dangerous situation.

STATS: Ptolus, p. 101

CONNECTIONS

Aliaster is part of the thoughtstone network. (Ptolus, p. 158)

RESPONSIBILITIES

Aliaster handles anything magical or alchemical in the family’s portfolio. This includes:

• Alchemical Labs (Part 7)
• Red Company of Fletchers (Guild – Dreadwood Grove)
• Red Company of Founders (Guild – Founders’ Workshop)
• Oldtown Apartments (Part 15)
• Red Company of Magi (Part 13)

SCHEDULE

Regular Activity: Visits Haven’s Haven every Fireday to shave and trim his beard.

1d6	Random Activity
1	Crown Theater (Ptolus, p. 268): Attending Lothian Ascendant, an experimental opera sponsored by Adlam Theobald.
2	Tess’ Cauldron (Ptolus, p. 313): Aliaster is trying to convince Tess Essani to join the Red Company of Magi. (It’s possible he’s romantically interested in her.)
3	Winsome Galleries (Ptolus, p. 277): Aliaster dabbles in magical sculpture (pieces that move; pieces that create charm effects; compositions of magical light; magic mouth statuary; etc.). He will occasionally deliver some of these pieces to the Winsome Galleries for sale.
4	Attending a guild meeting of the Red Company of Magi.
5-6	Oldtown Apartments: He’s here most days studying the askara or artifacts Navanna is pulling out of the Banewarrens.

Aliaster’s Arcane Sigil

GATTARA VLADAAM

 APPEARANCE: A round face and shoulder-length, dark brown hair with reddish tints. She wears scandalously revealing garments and large, glittering jewelry much of the time.

ROLEPLAYING:

• Hopelessly mad, given to fits of irrational rage without notice.
• A high-pitched, tittering laugh.
• A raw, desperate flirtation that craves a mixture of acceptance and adoration. (Can easily flip into a cruel sadism.)

BACKGROUND: Once thought a promising wizard, she gave up her studies to serve as a priestess to the Galchutt. She maintains a fancy of opening a temple to the Galchutt in the Temple District (perhaps even using the Abandoned Temple of the Great Mother, see Part 6), but there is nothing concrete to any of it.

She has some contact with the chaos cults, but no direct contact with Wuntad. (He was initially intrigued, but he considers her madness and her irrational fervor too much of a liability.) Gattara has convinced Navanna to provide supplies to the chaos cults through various parts of the Vladaam deots.

Despite her madness (or perhaps because of it), she serves as something of the “family sage.”

STATS: Ptolus, p. 608

CONNECTIONS

BALACAZARS: Gattara has been good friends with Malkeen Balacazar (Ptolus, p. 103) since childhood. Rumors of them being lovers are false, but Malkeen will regularly consult with her regarding sorcerous matters – particularly those of the macabre or sadistic bent that he knows she will enjoy.

MARCUS CORELLIUS: Gattara has a good (and periodically intimate) relationship with Den Master Marcus Corellius (Part 8: Curse Dens). Although Godfred is technically in charge of the curse dens, Gattara liaised with Corellius regularly regarding the slave trade cover operations (Part 16).

THOUGHTSTONES: Gattara is part of the thoughtstone network (Ptolus, pg. 167)

RESPONSIBILITIES

Gattara likes slaves. She really, really likes them. Navanna generally leaves her to it, although she makes a point of regularly checking the books.

• Part 16: Slave Trade

SCHEDULE

Regular Activity:

• Danbury’s (Ptolus, p. 192): Socializing at this tavern for wizards and sorcerers three nights out of four.
• Jade Woman (Ptolus, p. 277): Visits roughly once a week to shop for a new set of garish outfits.

1d4	Random Activity
1	Curse Dens (Part 8): Gattara likes to play with the slaves in the curse dens. She favors the Rivergate location, where she can also meet with Den Master Corellius.
2	Soaring Idyll (Ptolus, p.276): Gattara likes to use the Idyll for her sexual liaisons. (There is a 50% chance this involves Den Master Corellius.)
3	Shadow Theater (Ptolus, p. 310): Gattara has been regularly attending performances and has been going backstage in an effort to learn the shadow-magic arts of the performers. She has also met Renn Sadar (Ptolus, p. 99) in the audience on a few occasions. (Note: Tellith’s father is the manager of the theater. She’s somewhat estranged from him because he’s terrible at business and left her and the mother in poverty for much of her childhood. See the Ghostly Minstrel, Ptolus, p. 194.)
4	Onyx Spider (Ptolus, p. 203): Meeting with Malkeen Balacazar.

GODFRED VLADAAM

APPEARANCE: Tall, dark-haired, and pale, with extremely broad shoulders. Thick hair and bushy eyebrows. A long scar down one side of his often unshaven face.

ROLEPLAYING:

• Slow witted and rash. A lumbering oaf.
• Haughty, with an immense sense of entitlement.
• Looks down his nose (literally) at anyone he deems to be a lesser being… which is virtually everyone.

BACKGROUND: Youngest of the heirs and Iristul’s favored, but Iristul is smart enough to know that the boy isn’t capable of being in charge.

Godfred is a master of the greatsword and wields the only hungersword Iristul has yet found.

STATS: Ptolus, p. 102

CONNECTIONS

None of note.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Navanna has handed over responsibility for the drug-running activities of the Vladaam deot to Godfred and, with them, the family’s shipping concerns. This is ideal because these aspects of the deot largely run themselves (either through the Fleet of Iron captains or the Red Company of Surveyors), and she also figures that if these activities were to ever blow up, she could lay the whole thing on Godfred and call it a day.

• Curse Dens (Part 8)
• Fleet of Iron Sails (Part 9)
• Red Company of Surveyors (Part 14)
• Vladaam Drug Running (Part 18)

SCHEDULE

Regular Activity: Godfred’s entire schedule is relatively predictable. The White House, Lady Cardie’s, and the Waterfall are all basically daily activities for him. The Arena is only irregular because it largely depends on when his fighter is scheduled.

1d8	Random Activity
1	Arena (Ptolus, p. 292): Godfred has been sponsoring a fighter named Cardric Dragonkin.
2-4	White House (The Mrathrach Agenda): He’s been gambling here regularly.
5-6	Lady Cardie’s (Ptolus, p. 313): Visits this brothel on most nights. (It is also a front for the Vai, and he’ll use the visits to arrange for assassinations and hits. See Ptolus, p. 131.)
7-8	The Waterfall (Ptolus, p. 324): Godfred’s favorite bathhouse.

NAVANNA VLADAAM

APPEARANCE (GLAMERED): A black dress with burnished armlets which send patterns of magical shadow writhing up her arms. A large glittering ruby in a simple fixture of taurum has been affixed directly to her breastbone. All of this stands out starkly and sharply against her dusky skin.

• GM Note: The ruby functions as a hat of disguise.

APPEARANCE (ACTUAL): Short-haired, pointy-chinned, extremely fit and thin. Her hair is dark brown and her skin is extraordinarily black – almost blue. Her teeth are bright yellow and she has four tiny red horns on her forehead right at the hairline.

ROLEPLAYING:

• Polite, charming, and perfectly willing to stick a dagger into your back at the first opportunity if there’s any profit in it.
• Coolly asexual, although she can drape other personalities (from femme fatale to gregarious bard) onto her false identities.
• If driven to true fury, she hisses like a cat. (She has not hissed in years.)

BACKGROUND: While Iristul is away, Navanna runs House Vladaam. Like her siblings, she is wicked and cruel – but she is also extremely devious and painstakingly cautious. She is not the most powerful of the family, nor the eldest, but she is the best leader.

KEY INFO: Navanna is constantly accompanied by at least four of the Twelve Claws (her personal werewolf bodyguards; see Part 5: The Vladaam Estate).

STATS: Ptolus, p. 101

CONNECTIONS

• Renn Sadar (Ptolus, p. 98)
• Commissar Igor Urnst (Ptolus, p. 140)
• City Council (Ptolus, p. 140)
• Menon Balacazar (Ptolus, p. 103)

RESPONSIBILITIES

Navanna officially runs the deot of House Vladaam while Prince Iristul is away. Although certain aspects of the deot are handed off to her siblings for daily operations, she still oversees everything.

• Abandoned Temple of the Mother (Part 6)
• Ithildin Couriers (Part 1)
• Red Companies (Part 1)
• Undead Shipping Warehouse (Part 17)
• Vladaam Family Estate (Part 5)

SCHEDULE

Regular Activity:

• Visits the Winsome Gallery (Ptolus, pg. 277) every week on Airday to see the latest arrivals and occasionally purchase pieces she fancies.
• Meeting of City Council. (1 in 6 chance of meeting each day. She has, however, been leaving a larger number of votes in the Trade Circle to the family’s proxies.)

1d8	Random Activity
1	Aristocrat’s Table (Ptolus, p. 284): 1 in 4 chance of meeting Red Company leader, otherwise she’s dining alone.
2	City Courts (Ptolus, p. 318): She’s seeking reparations from the city for their “occupation”of the Oldtown Apartments (Part 15, this is dependent on events from the Night of Dissolution).
3	Meeting with Menon Balacazar.
4	Meeting with Renn Sadar.
5	Meeting with Adlam Theobold: She’s interested in the church’s involvement with the Banewarrens. (This is dependent on events from the Banewarrens, otherwise re-roll.)
6	Arena at the Dark Reliquary (Ptolus, p. 237): PCs can try to wrangle an invitation by making a complex Charisma (Investigation) check (DC 20/4/3). For each failure, someone becomes aware of their attendance (Vladaams, chaos cults, Lilith, Vai assassins, etc.).
7-8	Tends to disappear (or at least become unaccountable) for large stretches of time. (If she has become aware of the Banewarrens, these periods have increased in frequency since that time.) See “False Identities,” below.

NAVANNA’S FALSE IDENTITIES

Navanna maintains a number of false identities in the city. She is constantly discarding old identities and creating new ones as opportunities and needs arise.

Navanna will use her ruby of disguise and then simply teleport out of the Vladaam House Estate. Some of her identities maintain rooms at the Soaring Idyll across the street (so she simply teleports there). She also rents a room in Oldtown almost directly below the House Estate and she can teleport there.

ELLA FENRIS: A swarthy-skinned half-orc. Master Delver of the Delver’s Guild (Ptolus, p. 108). Rarely goes on actual delves, but uses guild contacts to find out the latest discoveries beneath Ptolus.

IDORU: As Idoru, Navanna works as a freelance representative of the Eight Shadows (Ptolus, pg. 377). In that role, she either approaches (or is approached by) would-be clients of the Eight Shadows (either for vile fantasies at their brothel or, more likely, their job as drug dealers, assassins, spies, and enforcers). The Eight Shadows are part of the Balacazar criminal cartel, but neither they nor the Balacazars know that Idoru is secretly Navanna.

NICALON REGELIS: A new member of the Knights of the Golden Cross (Ptolus, p. 120). Spread story of being recently imprisoned by the Vladaams and would speak out strongly against the House in order to find out what her enemies have to say. She sacrificed this identity (blowing months of work) in order to identify the Hand of the Banelord and steal it from the PCs. See Banewarrens, p. 42.

OALA: A hostess at the Onyx Spider (Ptolus, p. 203). The owner of the Spider knows that Oala is an agent of House Vladaam, but doesn’t realize she’s actually Navanna in disguise. Navanna finds it useful to be able to move freely through the crowds here, eavesdropping wherever it seems wise.

Go to Part 3: Clue List

Whether you’re talking about Jaroo Ashtaff, the Level 7 Druid, from AD&D, a Goblin Wizard 14 from 3^rd Edition, or a 5^th Edition Archmage, the trickiest bit of creating an NPC spellcaster is filling in their spell list.

For example, let’s take a closer look at the 5E Archmage’s spellcasting capability:

Cantrips (5, at will):

1^st Level (4 slots):

2^nd Level (3 slots):

3^rd Level (3 slots):

4^th Level (3 slots):

5^th Level (3 slots):

6^th Level (1 slot):

7^th Level (1 slot):

8^th Level (1 slot):

9^th Level (1 slot):

Now, obviously, in this case we can actually use the default spells provided in the Archmage stat block. But wouldn’t it get a little boring — in a game teeming with hundreds or thousands of amazing spell options — for every Archmage to cast the exact same set of spells?

And so here we are, picking out twenty-five spells one by one.

It’s laborious.

And particularly daunting if you’re creating a spellcaster on the fly in the middle of a session: The PCs zigged in an unexpected direction or zagged by unexpectedly picking a fight. Quick! Pick a dozen (or two dozen!) spells in the time it takes the players to roll initiative!

THE BLANK TEMPLATE

If you take a second peek at the blank Archmage template above, you’ll see the technique I use when this situation comes up at the table.

(Which, of course, it inevitably does.)

Rather than listing the spellcaster’s spells, I just list their daily capacity.

Then I’ll grab a copy of the Player’s Handbook (or its local equivalent; similar techniques work in a wide variety of games) and flip it open to the appropriate spell list.

When it comes time for the NPC spellcaster to cast a spell, I’ll simply choose whatever spell feels appropriate and add it to the previously blank template. Over time, the template fills in.

The drawback to this technique is that it requires a bit more system mastery, since you’ve just multiplied their spell selection each round from a list with a handful spells on it to literally every spell in the book. But it’s not like you need to actually memorize every spell in the book: with just a little familiarity, you can rely on the spells you’re familiar with, grab anything else that looks particularly cool or appropriate as the need arises, and slowly expand your repertoire.

Plus your Player’s Handbook is already flipped open to the right page, so thumbing over to the description of a spell you’re not completely familiar with should be fairly easy.

CONSTRAINING CHOICE

Another effect of this technique, obviously, is that if you play it for maximum mechanical advantage your spellcasters are significantly more powerful than they were before! After all, “they” get to pick any spell they want at the very moment they need it! That’s not fair!

First, good sir or ma’am: ARE YOU A GAME MASTER OR AREN’T YOU?

Just… don’t do that. Ask yourself, “Does it make sense for them to have this spell?” And, if it doesn’t, don’t use it. If you don’t think you can answer that question truthfully, then flip a coin or roll a die when in doubt.

If you want a different form of constraint, consider defining a spell “theme” for the NPC caster: Maybe they’re a fire mage or a defense specialist or a summoner. Limit their spell selections to this theme: In addition to making the encounter more flavorful, it will place a reasonable limit on you unlimited spell selection and maybe even push you out of your comfort zone, encouraging you to experiment with new spells you haven’t gotten comfortable with yet.

Another constraint might be eliminating 25% or even 50% of their spell slots. For example, we might take our Archmage template and do this:

Cantrips (5, at will):

1^st Level (4 slots): X

2^nd Level (3 slots): X X

3^rd Level (3 slots): X

4^th Level (3 slots): X X

5^th Level (3 slots): X

6^th Level (1 slot):

7^th Level (1 slot): X

8^th Level (1 slot):

9^th Level (1 slot): X

With each X representing a spell they’ve already used today or, alternatively, a spell they’ve prepared that isn’t relevant to the current encounter (depending on edition and spellcasting class). This limited capacity counteracts, to at least some extent, the greater flexibility of their spell selection. Plus, it probably just makes sense more often than not: The NPC was probably just going about their day, casting their spells the way they normally do. It’s actually pretty unrealistic when every NPC spellcaster shows up with their full daily allotment of casting ready to drop on a single encounter.

SAVE YOUR SPELL LISTS

Whether you’re prepping spell lists in your adventure notes or jotting them down desperately in the middle of the session, save the list. Give it a label like “Fire Mage” or “Death By Lightning.” Copy it into a repository or drop it into a file folder.

Over time you’ll build up a valuable trove of spell lists. Eventually, you won’t be left scrambling when the players zig-zag: You’ll be able to grab the most appropriate list, give it a couple of twists, and run with it.

DISCUSSING
In the Shadow of the Spire – Session 31C: The Obstinate Prisoner

“It’s been two days since I had a drink,” the orc said. “Are you planning to kill me?”

“What are you talking about?” Tee said. “I just poured water over you head.”

“Maybe if we tried a nicer approach?” Ranthir said. “Tell us what we want to know and we’ll give you some food.”

“You tore off my ear and killed my friends and you think I’m going to talk for a little bit of food?”

They shut the closet door and withdrew a little.

A bad habit for a GM is to just keep constantly re-making the same check until the outcome swaps. That might be calling for Stealth check after Stealth check until the PCs finally fail a check and the whole compound goes on high alert. Or it might be letting the PCs make Interrogation after Interrogation check until they finally get a success and crack their target.

That’s obviously not how I handled the interrogation in this session. (The orc prisoner remains uncracked.) Instead, I’m using a Let It Ride technique. In its most basic form this boils down to treating the initial check to resolve a situation as a binding result. For example, you can’t just keep making Pick Locks checks until you pick the lock: Your initial check determines whether or not this is a lock that you can pick at this time. (For a detailed example of what this can look like in practice, check out Letting It Ride on the Death Star.)

In this case, the binding check actually took place in the previous session when the PCs first attempted to interrogate their prisoner. I did allow a couple of different checks before “locking” things in, basically modeling your typical good cop/bad cop situation. (These were, in my opinion, sufficiently different approaches that different checks were merited. Similar to how you could still try to kick down the door even if your Pick Locks check failed.)

Players, of course, will continue to push for more checks if they’re trying to escape a failure. That’s good! The key thing, though, is that you want them to be creative. Not just, “I do it again.” (“I pick the lock again.” “I threaten the orc again.”) But creating some new way of thinking about or approaching or solving or overcoming the obstacle. As the GM, you want to hold the line – particularly in muddy social situations – because it will push play forward in interesting ways.

The last thing to note about letting it ride in a social scene, like this interrogation, is that you can – and almost certainly should! – play through the scene. The check determines outcome, but it’s still worthwhile to roleplay through the actual interaction. (And, through that interaction, the players may end up identifying the alternative approach that will allow them to forge a new path.)

With that being said, don’t let the players’ desire to escape failure allow the scene to drag out. If a social scene starts to spin its wheels, you need to wrap it up:

• Is there anything else you want to say here?
• It doesn’t look like she’s going to budge. What do you want to do next?
• You keep at her for another thirty minutes, but she refuses to crack. Now what?

Or, frankly, just cut to the next scene.

Campaign Journal: Session 31D – Running the Campaign: Roleplaying NPC Scenes
In the Shadow of the Spire: Index

IN THE SHADOW OF THE SPIRE

SESSION 31C: THE OBSTINATE PRISONER

November 9th, 2008
The 17th Day of Kadal in the 790th Year of the Seyrunian Dynasty

“Couldn’t we take one of these corpses and use it to intimidate that orc we’ve got locked in a closet?” Elestra asked.

“Haven’t we basically already done that?” Tee pointed out, leaving unvoiced her concern about the bloodthirstiness beginning to appear in the young girl.

“I’ve even torn off her ear,” Agnarr said.

They left the bodies, but they did return to the mansion.

They found the orc woman sleeping in the closet. Tee poured water over her head and they tried to question her again… but it went no better than the last two times they had tried.

The orc woman laughed at Elestra’s efforts. “You’re wearing pink leather boots. I can barely take you seriously.”

Tor stepped forward and ineffectually tried again. “I’m imagining you wearing pink leather boots.”

They were stymied.

“It’s been two days since I had a drink,” the orc said. “Are you planning to kill me?”

“What are you talking about?” Tee said. “I just poured water over you head.”

“Maybe if we tried a nicer approach?” Ranthir said. “Tell us what we want to know and we’ll give you some food.”

“You tore off my ear and killed my friends and you think I’m going to talk for a little bit of food?”

They shut the closet door and withdrew a little.

“She’s right about one thing,” Tee said. “If we just keep her locked up in there, she’ll die.”

“So?” Elestra asked.

They eventually decided to haul her down to the Imperial Cathedral. There they turned her over to Heth Neferul, explaining that she might be a source of information regarding the group attempting to breach the Banewarrens.

“And what of the lore spell?” Heth asked. “Was it successful, Master Ranthir?”

“Yes,” Ranthir said.

“It told us that the only way through the door was through the use of a magical wish,” Tee lied blithely.

Heth pondered this for awhile. “I will see if such powerful magicks can be acquired for you. In the meantime, continue your efforts to reach the sword. If our questioning of this orc yields any fruit, I will send word to you.”

PLANNING FOR THE MORROW

Returning to the Ghostly Minstrel they spent the better part of an hour cleaning up the coagulate gore and blood that had been spattered across them in the Banewarrens (and only now pausing to reflect on Brother Heth’s blithe reaction to the same).

While the others were finishing up, Tor left the Minstrel and went next door to the Bull and Bear. There he found Iltumar tending the shop. After some small talk (in which Iltumar proved to be his usual, overeager self), Tor asked him if he might be interested in practicing some swordplay the next morning.

“I would love to! Will Mistress Tee be there?”

“No, it would just be me and you,” Tor said. “Is that okay?”

“Of course!”

“Do you own a sword?”

“No, but I can ask Hirus if I might borrow one.”

“Do so,” Tor said. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow.”

Tor returned to the Ghostly Minstrel and gathered the others. Tor explained his plans with Iltumar – if the lad wanted to be a part of something larger, he was hoping to give him a better option than the Brotherhood of Ptolus.

Tor also wanted to try to reach Sir Kabel in Pythoness House as soon as possible, but he was worried that he was still being followed – possibly by agents of the Church.

After discussing their options, Ranthir proposed using a spell of invisibility that the he had studied in Shilukar’s spellbook. Thus cloaked in magick, Tor would be able to easily slip away from the mansion on Nibeck Street and make his way to Pythoness House undetected.

Ranthir wouldn’t be able to cast the spell until morning, but since Tor wasn’t supposed to meet with Sir Kabel until then they decided that the plan was as good as any.

They also wanted to make sure that the sealed door in the Banewarrens couldn’t be opened without them knowing about it. Ranthir would be able to lay a spell which would alert him if the door was opened and Elestra’s connection with the Spirit of the City would allow her to work a similar charm. Between the two of them they should be able to keep the sealed door under constant alarm.

However, these minor magicks were strictly limited in their range: If they were placed upon the sealed door, Ranthir and Elestra would be unable to move much farther east than the edge of Oldtown.

And with that plan in hand, not wanting to leave the door unwatched any longer than necessary, they returned to the Banewarrens. Ranthir laid his spell upon the sealed door and the rest of them set their watches for the night.

Running the Campaign: Let It Ride Interrogation  – Campaign Journal: Session 31D
In the Shadow of the Spire: Index