|
Alkenstar, City of Smog, is a bastion of civilization in the magic-warped region known as the Mana Wastes. Its ingenious citizens survive in the treacherous Spellscar Desert with the help of canny inventions like guns and clockwork automatons, but now their construct protectors have begun to run amok within the city. It falls to the PCs to venture beyond the city walls to find the source of their strange behavior. Will they uncover the mastermind behind the plot and put an end to this madness, or will they instead fall victim to the primal magic and savage tribes of Mana Wastes mutants that beleaguer the city?
|
An old man enters the room. Bald head bags under his eyes. "Gods, they get you up early for these...or did I sleep through yesterday. Oh, a cigar. I was never much for tobacco." he says as he swallows three pills, packs some chew, and snorts something. He chases that with a few vials of this and that and just a nip of whisky. [b]"Rocky and Rogar it is good to meet you."
|
"325 gold pieces for a merchant's license. You should be lucky that a Venture Captain of the Society, and one that has his own ship, would want to do business in your city." He says digging out a coins. "No. I know it policy, an outrageous one."
Once the form is completed, he places the paperwork in a satchel and hands it to his acquaintance. "Take this back to the ship and begin the search for an open spot in the city. We may be here for a while. Might as well make some coin"
A well groomed man enters next. He brings the smell of the salt with him, as if just came from a long journey at sea. "Good day all. So, what is this about constructs? Never did like dealing with them."
Checking his bandolier for his cartridges, "May need to buy some special ammo"."
"Ah, how rude of me." He takes his tricorn hat off and places it on his chest and bows slightly, "I am Venture Captain Fandral Devinwood." He stratens and gives a smirk. "Among many other titles"
|
|
A tall, thin, blue humanoid dressed in a swirling blue and silver robe floats into the room. Pale, white eyes regard the assembled pathfinders. Hello everyone it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Obo, lets hope this is not all dealing with constructs...that would be, annoying.
Obo settles into a chair to wait for their host and takes a slim volume out of a satchel and starts to idly flip through it.
|
|
Each of you receives an individually addressed envelope. It is marked with the seal of the Decemvirate and contains two pieces of paper.
The first paper is also marked with the seal of the Decemvirate and reads: "Approved. If you accept this mission, meet your team at the Sea King Shipyard in the Docks district."
The second paper is a letter from Eliza Baratella and bears no markings. At minimum, you recognize the name as someone important in the city of Alkenstar.
Pathfinder,
I request an audience with you. I have read some of your past exploits in the chronicles and cleared this with your leaders. Please come to the Brass Guild; I need your utmost discretion to investigate something that should not be possible.
I have secured passage for you on the Wandering Hearth captained by Eynilla Vriggdahl. Though a gruff Ulfen, she has been well compensated and will ensure your safe, swift passage from Absalom to Alkenstar.
With thanks,
Eliza Baratella
A quick/easy confab with your fellow pathfinders (or, perhaps, your own knowledge) will confirm that teleportation and magical flight into or out of the magic-dead city are impossible.
|
|
Taking out the letter Obo looks over it, Does anyone know who this Eliza is?
Obo casts a simple heroism spell and takes out several slim volumes of pathfinder chronciles. I wonder...
Also, anyone know anything about Alkenstar and the surroundings?
We cannot teleport into Alkenstar but I can probably put us down somewhere nearby if we want to cut out the long ship journey.
|
|
Between you, the party learns:
- The city-state of Alkenstar has gained an unexpected level of power despite its tiny size, through the invention of firearms, a necessity for survival in the harsh, magic-dead region known as the Mana Wastes. Beyond just firearms and weaponry, the engineers and alchemists of Alkenstar have crafted and perfected technology to a level far surpassing any other region in the Inner Sea, capitalizing on the rich mineral deposits and the need for something to replace the usually omnipresent conveniences of magic.
- The Grand Duchy of Alkenstar is technically a vassal of the nation of Nex to the north of the Mana Wastes and Grand Duchess Trietta Ricia should, by the letter of the law, report to the rulers of that land. In practice, however, Alkenstar remains a fairly independent city-state and a force of neutrality between the rival nations of Nex and Geb. The small nation is governed by a High Parliament consisting of 73 ministers representing the various factions in the three settlements and small rural sections of the city-state's realm.
- Eliza Baratella is a talented engineer and popular politician, representing the esteemed Guild of Brass within Alkenstar. Her guild designed and manufactured the Brass Guardians, simple clockwork drones that patrol Alkenstar and protect its citizens from exterior threats (such as mercenaries from Nex and Geb) or mutated creatures from the Spellscar Desert and Western Ravage
- Eliza Baratella is a minister on the Alkenstar Parliament. Though a powerful politician, she isn't above getting her hands (and face, and clothes) dirty. She is often found elbow-deep in an engineering project and has a reputation for having a good head on her shoulders. (She's not overly obsessed with technology or absent-minded or easily distracted, etc.)
|
|
I am also happy to provide us all with a little Fortune Telling if you wish to peer into the future says Obo.
|
|
When you arrive in the so-called Clockwork City, you find the atmosphere as tense with fear and suspicion as it is full of smog. Chatting up a few of the locals, you discover that the city's Brass Guardians have been going haywire and attacking Alkenstarians without provocation. Given the timing of your appointment with Eliza Baratella, there really isn't time to learn anything more.
You arrive at the Brass Guild, announce your presence and are immediately brought inside. "Ah! The minister said to expect you, this way please. I'll make sure that refreshments are brought to you right away."
You're brought to an impressive workshop filled with steam and loud noises where Baratella is working with other engineers. She's literally waist-deep in clockwork chassis tinkering with a partially disassembled Brass Guardian.
As soon as she's aware of your presence, she asks the others to take a break and starts briefing you as soon as you're alone.
"Thank you for coming. I appreciate that the Pathfinder Society saw fit to send you lot in particular. I'm sorry I wasn't more forthcoming in my message, but I fear that my correspondence has been monitored or compromised in some way--I'm not sure how. You see, one of our Brass Guardians was recently stolen and reprogrammed, and we don't know how or by whom."
"Whoever's behind this plot is powerful—likely someone in the government who sees me or my creations as a threat. But I can't go around flinging accusations of sabotage and treason without evidence, nor do I know if I can trust the authorities here to investigate. You, on the other hand, are neutral parties."
"I've got a good sense of where you can start looking. When the first Brass Guardians started raging in the streets, we looked closely at their serial numbers to determine where they'd come from. In every case, the clockworks had originally been positioned in the city's western quarters, closest to the Karggat Hills. I sent Arvanor, my assistant, to follow a series of tracks left by a guardian leaving the city's western gates. Those tracks led north and west into the Karggat Hills, and into a mine some fifty miles away. Arvanor reported back that he was headed into the mines to investigate further, and no one has heard from him since. That was two months ago. And since then, the Brass Guardians' attacks have only increased in frequency and intensity."
"I have secured transportation for you on the guild’s private airship, under the pretense that you are trapsmiths we've hired to help protect our facilities
in Martel. You won’t go to Martel, however; instead, the pilot has been instructed to take you directly to the Karggat Mine. Please find out who's behind this sabotage of the Brass Guardians and bring me evidence to put an end to the plot. The guild and I have significant resources with which to reward you, and time is of the essence."
She then activates a device and says, "All clear. You can come back now."
Some administrative assistants bring trays of food; pitchers of water, tea, and coffee; and warm hand towels to refresh yourselves.
|
|
Obo scowls at the idea of haywire constructs. Do you have any thoughts on who might be behind this? Can you tell us anything about the nature of these Brass Constructs, how might we best deal with them if we encounter more haywire ones. Also, will the region we are going to create problems with the use of magic?
|
|
Before we leave for the city Obo sits down and produces an old, delicate wooden box. Sliding back the lid they prodce a set of faded Harrow cards. I owned these many, many years ago, in a different life, when I was a student at the Twilight Academy.
Obo smooths down the pale green felt covering the table, takes a deep breath, shuffles the cards and begins to draw...
Lawful Neutral Keys
Chaotic Good Shield
Lawful Evil Stars
Neutral Evil Shield
Neutral Evl Crown
Lawful Neutral Crown
Neutral Evil Book
Chaotic Evil Star
Chaotic Good Star
It seems that our fates are dominated by the forces of evil with the other powers rather more balanced...
Greater Harrowing
You will need to mathc the results against your own alignment.
Roll 1d6 to determine the suit (1=hammer, 2=key, 3=shield, 4=book, 5=star, 6=crown), and 1d10 to determine alignment (1=LG, 2=NG, 3=CG, 4=LN, 5=N, 6=CN, 7=LE, 8=NE, 9=CE, 10=roll again).
|
|
"What can you tell us about your assistant? "
"He's a hard worker. Smart. Capable. I think his heritage is Vudrani. He's been with us for a little while and gets along well with his co-workers. I trust him; I wouldn't have given this mission if I had any doubts at all. I hope he's OK."
__________________________________________________
"can we see a Brass Guardian to know what it's skills are?"
The partially disassembled one on the floor before you is medium sized. It's filled with gears and has a winding mechanism. Essentially, it looks like a nice clockwork automaton. At this level, with your experience, you'd know (or have heard) that clockworks can come in various "models." Advanced models can have special abilities--like weapon proficiency.
The minister gestures to the guardian before you. "Help yourself. Any of the engineers can assist you, if needed. But, don't take too long. We have to get to the bottom of this before more innocent people get hurt. We haven't figured out how to ground them well; so, the guardians are vulnerable to electricity. Other than that, they're tanks that can take a hit and hit back hard."
|
|
Obo looks careully over the machines. Do we have any idea what might be at the mones? Are they active, will their be workers there or have they been abandoned...
[dice=Knowledge on Construct, heroism, chronicle]1d20+20+2+2
"Those mines were abandoned a long time ago. The Karggat Mine was among the first created in Martel's early days, and its winding underground passages once spanned acres of land. The ores drawn from the Karggat Mine were renowned for the unearthly green shimmer the minerals gave off. Operations came to a halt, however, when workers started getting sick for no obvious reason and dropping dead only days later. It wasn't long before the investors of these projects withdrew from the Karggat Hills, and in their fear of catching whatever ailment might be spreading, they destroyed entire passages and blocked off all the major entrances."
"The walls of the Karggat Mine are primarily rough-hewn stone, and the uneven ceiling reaches an average height of 20 feet—roughly the size of the slanted coal vein that drew miners here in the first place. The tunnels are supported by various stone and coal deposits the miners left as pillars."
"I wish I could tell you more, but Arvanor's disappearance means that any assumptions we had might be wrong."
|
A tall, well-muscled Taldan man strolls in with the agility and balance of a great cat, and immediately heads for the dwarf, extending an arm to shake hands. Behind him stroll in porters, guards, accountants and other merchant caravan members, all heading towards their designated quarters to secure their respective rooms.
"Rogar you old fart! you managed to dislodge yourself out of the sands of Osirion long enough to plunk yourself on a ship? Marvelous! I would have come sooner would I have known they drafted you for this one! You heard of Torch since our brush with death and those blasted Sages of yours? and guess what: they made me a Venture-Captain along with that scoundrel Fandral over there! Bwahahahah!
To the rest of you, well met fellow agents. You can call me Theodric. I am pleased and delighted to meet you. I am truly honored to venture along such long-lived and experienced masters on behalf of the Pathfinder Society. If I can do anything to be of help in the immediate please do not hesitate to ask.
Finally, well met Minister Baratella! I am eager to help! If I may, would you mind briefing us on how magic dead this place really is? I'm hoping you're the most qualified in this land to separate facts from rumors, and consequently, allow us to properly prepare for the journey ahead."
|
|
Obo and Rogar confirm that Eliza Baratella was telling the truth and holding nothing back. In general, the giardians are hard to hit, hit hard, and are vulnerable to electricity. Gleaning any further information from the clockwork will necessitate a detailed inspection--taking several hours or days.
The minister greets Theodric with a polite nod. "The Mana Wastes are the devastated strip of land that lies between the once-warring nations of Nex and Geb. Their war turned the fields into a wasteland. It also altered how magic works in the region. There are areas devoid of magic; these are pockets where magic simply does not work at all. In other areas, the laws of reality themselves have been damaged, and magic becomes dangerously wild and unpredictable. This is known as primal magic, and it sometimes lashes the land with spontaneous waves of raw magical energy. These areas are not stable, often alternating between states of dead magic, primal magic, and normal magic. Another by-product of the war is that deadly monsters and mutants now roam the region."
|
|
"We'll have to make do I guess... luckily mine's a sturdy sword even without magic. Been trying to give her a name for the last few weeks now. Maybe this trip will trigger some inspiration? Minister, any chance we could borrow some of your most powerful firearms for this mission? do you have one that shoots lightning? I believe you said something about the clockworks being weak against them yes?"
|
|
"I've told you what I know. At least, what I can think of. Maybe if we had more time and fewer pressing matters." She says this sincerely, and pauses to consider whilst a gaggle of engineers queue up behind her to receive orders and ask questions about the army of clockworks still stationed throughout the city.
"Perhaps you could put your ear to the streets on the way to the airship?"
__________________________________________________
On the way to the airship, the party gathers some information. (No rolls needed.) Given the limited timetable that your mission requires, the party can follow-up on any one numbered item below "for free." (Follow-up will require a roll.) You are welcome to follow-up on more than one thing; but, that may impact the timetable. Here's what you discover:
(1) The city--Alkenstar's booming population and relative safety from the prying eyes of Nex and Geb have attracted all manner of industrious and varied folk, including entrepreneurial engineers and traders, innovative metallurgists, and ragamuffin gangsters with little to lose.
(2) Blythir College--The only magical academy officially recognized by the Grand Duchy, Blythir College is much smaller than most centers for arcane study found throughout the Inner Sea region—due in part to the inherent danger of studying arcana anywhere in the Mana Wastes.
(3) Brass Guild--The famous clockwork sentries that watch over and protect the majority of Alkenstar, the Brass Guardians are a wonder of technology that can be attributed almost solely to Eliza Baratella (NG female human expert 12) and her small coalition of like-minded engineers, the Brass Guild. Originally designed in 4685 ar to face the mounting threat of mutants crawling out of the recently abandoned Ironside Quarter, these automatons were found to be so successful in protecting Alkenstar that they are now distributed throughout the entire city.
(4) Espara's Paladins--One of the several criminal gangs that hold sway in the seedy underbelly of Alkenstar, Espara’s Paladins is anything but the group of chivalrous knights its name might suggest. Instead, its members include mishandled outcasts, frustrated orphans, unrepentant bullies, and even a few violent human mutants.
(5) Lithos Clan--The enigmatic Lithos Clan is an exclusive collective of metallurgists operated entirely independently of Alkenstar’s Gunworks. The clan’s unwillingness to share its discoveries with the Gunworks inspires no small amount of tension between the factions, but none can deny the metallurgical mastery of the clan’s finely crafted inventions.
(6) Shieldmarshals--Alkenstar’s elite police force, the shieldmarshals, is a marvel of military and organizational prowess. That the hero Alkenstar was able to instigate such a law agency in the disorderly Mana Wastes is a noteworthy feat in itself; on top of that, the Grand Duchy pushes forth the resources to equip each one of these professional gunslingers with a firearm to call his or her own while on the line of duty.