Three mysterious hooded men enter a tavern...
So recently it struck me that there are only 3 types of introductions to adventures:
1-2. Threatener. Something bad happens and the PCs must act quickly in order to save their lives/goods/reputations.
3-4. Enticer. The PCs are offered an opportunity to get something they want.
5-6. Querent. The PCs are faced with a choice between two or more things, which may or may not be immediately helpful to them.
So what could this look like, using the old trope of the hooded man in the tavern?
1. "You are all sitting and drinking in the tavern, when suddenly an old man crashes through the roof and lands on the table, breaking it in half, covering you in blood. Outside you hear a thundering roar and the sounds of pandemonium..."
2. "You are all sitting and drinking in the tavern, when suddenly an old man...". Yeah you know this one. Skip!
3. "You are all sitting and drinking in the tavern, when suddenly a hooded man enters and scans the room, studying you closely as he sits down a few tables away from you, as if expecting you to run away at any second..."
No matter the form, a good opener must have the property of asking implicitly "What do you do?"
The third option really strikes my fancy. Usually the hooded man just sits. But if he expects the party to bolt, there's a reason. And then the party starts to wonder if they should be running.
ReplyDeleteFive minutes later the tavern burns down.
But now I'm thinking what it would be like if the hooded man was immediately recognizable. 'This is Mirth Bloody-Thumbs, infamous mob enforcer,' or 'A soldier in the elite Blue Mountain Batallion, recognizable by the ribbon wound around his scabbard, takes a seat nearby and makes no secret of watching you.'
I like your thinking!
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