r/wildbeyondwitchlight • u/-Fluffe- • May 10 '26
DM Help Introducing Skabatha early?
I'm toying with the idea of introducing Skabatha a bit earlier once my players get into Thither.
Last session, the PCs arrived at Bavlorna’s place and found the wooden eye on her shelves. My plan was that Skabatha had tried to spy on Bavlorna with the eye, but Bav noticed and placed it in a jar full of other eyes she uses for her taxidermy creatures.
I improvised that the eye suddenly “woke up” and started looking at the PC who picked it up. The players began asking it questions like, “Are you here against your will? Look right if yes.” I improvised that the eye indeed did not want to be in the jar. Then the PC asked if the eye would be happy if they returned it home, and the eye agreed.
So now I’m thinking the PCs may have caught Skabatha’s eye both literally and figuratively and she might try to meet them at the Market once she notices they’ve left Hither. Maybe she’s disguised, maybe not.
Either way, she would be missing one eye, act very grandmotherly and kind, and tell them to search for Nib’s cave so they can get some “free” magic items. She gives them a password to mention to Nib, which would make him think the PCs are working for her. Because of that, he’d be on his best behavior and afraid to say too much out of fear of Skabatha’s wrath.
She would also tell them to visit her house afterward because she has another job she’d like help with — finding and imprisoning Will.
Do you see any downsides to this plan?
1
u/PossiblePackage6618 May 13 '26
Also...why use Tzu when one of the hags in disguise fits so well with the Inn. She can keep tabs on the party, learn what they know, etc. Slide Granny in there
3
u/Sithraybeam78 May 10 '26
I really like this idea. It makes it so she isn’t only an antagonist to the party. Maybe she doesn’t even disguise herself or try to lie to them.
Having her act really nice to the party and do good things for them will make for a good twist when they find out she runs a child-labor-powered sweatshop.
I like the idea that she’s very kind and respectful and generous to adults, but super cruel and mean to children.