(This is a series of adventure ideas I'm drawing up based on some of the little side treks I've thrown at my players over the years. Each should make for a fun 1 or 2 session diversion, or could be developed further into a full fledged campaign plotline. I hope they provide some inspiration and enjoyment.
Have at it - chatdemon)
Odd Company
An adventure seed for a party of 4-6 characters of levels 1-3
The Setup: After attending the yearly Beast's Day festival in Specularum, the party is making preparations to leave the city when a
young halfling lady approaches them. Her appearance and garb are
somewhat gypsy-like and she speaks with a slightly husky, seductive
voice. She offers the party 50 gold coins to let her accompany them on
their journey, and doesn't seem to care where they are headed, saying
simply that she's overcome by wanderlust and will part ways with them when they come to the next
city. If the party hesitates, she will up her offer to 75 gold, but
claims that is all she can spare.
Lizeta Springfoot, Nuetral Halfling lvl 2, chaotic nuetral, armed with
dagger and sling, carries a halfling sized lute in her pack.
The Possible Outcomes:
(In all outcomes, Lizeta will only engage in combat to save herself)
1: Lizeta is merely an eccentric girl who enjoys making new
friends and learning new tales (which she then composes as songs) by tagging along with travellers. If the
party interacts well with her during thier journey with her, the DM may
opt to make her a full fledged NPC party member and have her stick
around. If they part ways, chances are the party will later hear a
rowdy tavern song being sung in their honor (by her or someone who
learned it from her), the nature of which depends on how she was
treated.
2: Lizeta has swindled a local shopkeep out of a couple hundred
gold, and is therefore interested in leaving town quickly and with what
she sees as heavily armed companions. After 1d4 days of travelling with
the friendly but nervous halfling, the party is waylaid by a band of
thugs hired to find her and return the shopkeep's money. At this point
she feigns innocence and attempts to convince the party to help her
fight off the ruffians, if they do, use the statistics for Brigands from the RC or Basic Set for
the thugs, 1d6+2 of which will be present.
3: Lizeta is lying completely about her identity and situation, she is actually:
Giana Brightbuckle, Lawful Halfling level 6, dagger and
sling, lute (as part of her disguise), and a Amulet of Smiles - an enchanted trinket in the shape of a smiling woman's face that allows the
wearer to Charm Person as the Magic User spell once per day, with effects
based on a 5th level caster.
Giana was hired by Aleena (or Anielle, if you're using that option), niece of the Baron of Threshold and an influential member of the Order of the Gryphon in that city, to infiltrate the guildhouse of the Kingdom of the Thieves (the major thieves guild in Karameikos) and
retrieve an ancient holy book important to the Church of Karameikos, to which the Order of the Gryphon is loyal. The book is simply a
treatise on the dogma of the church, but is considered extremely
valuable by the temple in Threshold.
Giana will attempt to earn a spot in
the party until they next travel to, or near, Threshold, where she will
disappear to deliver the book. If the party lets her travel with them,
they will be accosted by random thieves (in numbers and of levels to challenge the party) from the Guild. The Guildmaster wants the book Giana has back, and will stop
at nothing to get it.
If anything prevents Giana from completing her quest, the party will
also eventually be sought after and questioned by Aleena's agents, who believe the party may have information. These will be clerics of 2nd to 4th level, again in numbers sufficient to challenge the party. If the party was helpful to Giana and is honest and forthright with Aleena's agents, the situation will resolve quietly, but any foul play or dishonesty on their part will come back to haunt them, since Aleena is indeed a very influential and well connected member of Threshold's nobility.
If Giana is successful in her quest, she will attempt to find the
party later in Threshold (or wherever the DM finds convenient) and wants to sign on with them for good,
assuming she has been treated well. At the DMs discretion, she may be
added as a full fledged NPC to the party roster.