Stupid DM Tricks
Or
The Sadistic DM's Handbook
"Perform!"
Best used by: This setup works best when used on very low leveled PCs in a setting such as Sigil. Alternately, it can be used in any civilized area where a commotion would be a bad idea.
The gruesome details: In a fiendish bar, or other low life place, the party bumps into a pair of moronic ghouls. The ghouls will latch onto the silliest looking PC, or the first one to make a mistake. They will then begin following that PC, throwing coins at him, and shouting "Perform!" While easy to amuse, the ghouls will get highly agitated if the PC stops entertaining them. They will whine, shout, throw things, and basically become a huge nucence. Depending on the situation, it might even cause a bar fight or riot. The ghouls never get tired of being amused, and will not even let the PC sleep. There are two ways to get ride of them: combat, or getting them interested in someone else as their toy. The combat option is risky, as the ghouls could destroy a low level party. For higher level groups, the bar patrons will side with the ghouls, regarding them as a combination of mascot and floor show.
Added wrinkles: If the PCs hoist the ghouls off on another poor soul, consider using this second encounter later on. While traveling back through the area, the PCs see the same two ghouls kicking a dead corpse, shouting "Perform!" The corpse will of course belong to the person the PCs let the ghouls with. If anyone in the party tries to interfere, the ghouls instantly latch onto that PC.
"Are you here to wash my windows?"
Best used by: Anyone in need of a wizardly contact.
The gruesome details: The PCs have need of either an employer, or need to contract some work with a wizard themselves. Unfortunately, they find one. ;-) In this case, a senile archmagi. While undoubtable powerfull, and knowledgeable, the wizard finds it impossible to remember any current details. This most commonly manifests as an absolute belief that the PCs are there to wash the windows of his tower. If the PCs wash the windows, or even claim to, the wizard pays them 100gp and sends them on their way. In order to get any real business done, the PCs must first help the wizard to remember who they are. Further, they will have to do this each and every time they meet the wizard, and occasionally several times in the same conversation!
Added wrinkles: The wizard in question will often forget key details of any kind of information. He will also sometimes confuse a PC or entire party with someone else he has known. This is sometimes a good thing, and sometimes very very bad.
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