[Axis Island] Question about the endgame and Varal

[al_fredo]

Hi...about to run the final scene of Axis Island, and have some questions.

I see this playing out in a few ways...but I'm unsure of the motivations and possible connections in further adventures.

1)PCs engage Asrabey Varal and win.
- Duchess lives and goes back to Risur disgraced and stripped of her title
- Nathan seeks asylum
- Asrabey is captured, but let go


2) PCs engage Asrabey Varal and lose.
- Does Varal play to kill? It says he tries to kill the PCs, so this could be a TPK.
- He will kill the Duchess...but why does he want Nathan? He hates Tieflings - and probably won't return him to Danor...or Risur. So what becomes of him?

3) PCs try to make a deal
- Varal lies...and will kill the duchess. BUt my PCs will likely not let him get to his portal and give him a minute to complete the ritual. Combat will ensue, so either 1 or 2 happens above. I'll have to prep a battle map for this, I suppose (the hedge maze or the 'town')?

I also have Sokana still alive...I'm not sure how I want to use her - but my party hates her.

So...I guess I'm struggling with why Varal wants Nathan and what happens to him. Any suggestions/thoughts?

Do either of these two show up in later adventures? I didn't anything in episode 2.

 

[gideonpepys]

I would say that Asrabey, having almost achieved his goal, would not aim to kill loyal servants of the king of Risur if he can help it. He is trying to maintain the alliance between the Unseen Court and Risur by proving the fey had not officially sanctioned the Duchess' attack, even if many lesser fey had joined her in rebellion.

If I were you, though, I wouldn't tell the PCs he is using non-lethal force until after the fight is over.

Nathan and Sokana do not appear in any of the later adventures (so far). Nor does the Duchess.

Off the top of my head I can't think what Asrabey wants Nathan for, other than the realisation that he is important. Asrabey is a soldier following orders who has to make a decision on the ground. Perhaps he takes Nathan to be on the safe side, and let his superiors find out more about him?

 

[gideonpepys]

Aha! I have it!

Asrabey once Nathan because he mentions Kasvarina Varal. Asrabey wants to find Kasvarina. This comes up again in adventure 5.

 

[RangerWickett]

What he said.

Asrabey won't go out of his way to kill downed foes, but he's not the type to hold back his full power. If the party fights him, he'll take them down one by one, then leave them for dead.

In my own playtest, the party got angry at him (how dare an NPC threaten us!), then panicked when he took out a PC in one hit, and offered to negotiate. Asrabey agreed to let them keep the duchess, since his message was delivered, but he wanted Nathan for the information he could provide. The party didn't like Lya Jierre, so they readily agreed.

Sokana never shows up again either.