Eustace Keeper’s family have owned this farmland for generations, and his ancestors have made a living the same way Eustace has: milking cows and selling adventurers the secret of how to pass through the magical gate in his top field, and into a far-away dungeon.
For 20 coin per head (becoming rapidly more if the adventurers are rude or try to haggle), Eustace will tell visitors that each traveller needs to smear some of their blood on the stone archway to allow them to pass through it, back and forth.
If he or his family are threatened, Eustace will tell them the secret freely. And once they’ve passed through, he will fetch a bucket, wash the offender’s blood from the stone, and trap them in the dungeon forever.
If the adventurers are nice to him, he’ll even warn them not to go through the portal when it’s going to rain.
What if the successfully Parley with him?
What if they successfully Parley with him using the threat of violence against his family as leverage? On a 10+ it would be a dick move to then trap them in if they fullfilled their part of the bargain.
What if they Cast Charm Person or a Mindread Spell? Heck, he could even just summon a spirit for the information or look at Visions through Time. What if someone spouts lore about the gate? What if the wizard uses a ritual to open it? The Cleric could cast Revelation. The Paladin could use I am the Law.
I think you should leave a few more blanks in this.
All and all I love the idea though. Eustance sounds like a bit of a jerk 🙂
Well, I was just explaining what he’d do if the PCs didn’t use any extraordinary means. If they’re so convincingly scary that he thinks they’ll somehow get out again and track him down, they can do whatever they like. :p
I love NPCs that are also traps!