Arsonist PC returns to hometown, need help brainstorming
I’m having a really hard time brainstorming ideas that feel "right" for this characters arc. My players are level 9 and we’re about to head into the hometown of one of my PCs, which is something my pc has been dreading for about two years irl lol.
One of my players is playing a half elf who essentially had a mid-life crisis in his backstory. He ended up burning down his boss’s alchemy shop after discovering the boss was sleeping with the PC’s wife lol. The PC fled the country, met the party, and has been adventuring anywhere else for about six in-game months. The only "tether" he’s had to his past is an anonymously mailed wanted poster of him, with a mysterious sigil drawn on the back (possible rebel group?)
Currently, the group is searching for a magic stone. Their only lead is that it’s located in the PC’s hometown.
General Lore background stuff
The stone has the power to summon an ancient Silver Dragon who can shape-shift into human form.
The town Viceroy and his goons want the stone, but they don't want the (good-aligned) dragon lady. Their plan is to sacrifice her body to a "Water Dragon" residing in a temple on the local lake. I’m still undecided on the specific creature type, but it’s a neutral/apathetic creature that doesn't care about the politics, it’s just hungry and willing to eat the sacrifice. I haven’t decided if the dragon lady will be unconscious, awake, shackled with magic shackles etc etc.
I’m struggling to conclude the pcs personal arc while simultaneously tying in the quest for the stone. It feels a bit too ‘conveniently timed’.
I have a few ideas I’d like some feedback on:
I’m thinking the PC's old boss was secretly brewing illegal alchemical concoctions for the Viceroy. When the PC burned the shop down, he inadvertently crippled the Viceroy’s supply or stash.
There’s a rebel group trying to topple the town leadership. Because of the fire, they think the PC was a tactical saboteur who knew about the illegal operation. They now want to recruit him as their leader maybe??
If the PC enters town without a disguise, should he be arrested immediately? I thought it would be hilarious if a guard, who is actually a rebel in disguise, arrests the PC to safely extract him to their secret base, leaving the rest of the party panicking while he’s being interrogated aka recruited?
How do I make the presence of the magic stone in his hometown feel earned rather than just convenient?
Is separating the PC from the party via a fake arrest (or possibly real arrest) too railroady?
How would you handle the confrontation between the PC, the ex-wife, and the "boss" who is now potentially a government-sanctioned criminal? I’m still undecided if I want the PCs boss or others to have died in the fire. All my players are good alignment and have been careful not to do anything murder hoboey that could change their alignment.
I also want the Water Dragon temple to be a bit of a crawl dungeon so I’d like all the players together beforehand maybe ?