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Setting: Phoenicia, the City of Psionics
The Backstory: The Fang of Domination is a magical artifact that comes from Man's Mesolithic Age, when the world was dominated by the Serpentfolk. No one knows the origin of the Serpentfolk or why they would exist in the world; just that they built numerous cities for habitation. The race disappeared officially from the earth about the time of the Neolithic Age, when Man's shamans were making advances in magic and separated magic into the three modes of study: Divine, Arcane, and Psionics.
The Premise: Agents of the Serpent (Serpentfolk) raid the Musaeum of Phoenicia, looking for clues as to the whereabouts of the Dragon's Fang of Domination. The player characters are enlisted to retrieve the Fang of Domination first. For with the Fang of Domination, the Serpentfolk can resurrect and empower their deity.
The Twist: The PCs must venture into the bowels of the city to find the prehistoric city of Nastileth. Phoenicia was built on the ruins of many successive cities, and may be a site of one of the oldest habitations on the earth. Their quest will take them through the Undermarket, the sewers, and down into the Dwarven City of Azaghâl, through a Neolithic Mannish city named Ang Gazhal, and finally Nastileth itself. However, the Fang of Domination isn't there. It's actually found in the Lycaeum of Sin -- where the Rune Wizards practice (i.e. Runelords from Rise of the Runelords).
The Climax: Both Serpentfolk and the PCs must get into the Lycaeum of Sin, where they must retrieve the Fang of Domination in a firefight. If the PCs get it, they can deliver it to the City Council for safe keeping or destroy it. If the Serpentfolk get it, they can resurrect their deity, and finally if the Rune Wizards get it -- the Balance of Power between psionics and arcane magic in the City can be potentially upset!
The MacGuffin: The Fang of Domination is a powerful artifact that once activated, can cast Mass Domination over a very large number of people -- about 50,000 people at once can come under its influence. Created when the Serpent Empire was at the height of it's decadence, it was lost in Nastileth during the Serpent Gate Wars.
Suggested Players: PCs should be of a core race; or of the Lemurian (Kalashtar), Protean (Changeling), Elan, Maenad, Nagaji, or Lizardman races. The PC's team make up should include at least one psionic class. For fun, someone can make a Rune Wizard (Runelord). Remember to dress according to the sin you represent. For instance, a Wizard of Envy might dress like this.
Suggested Level: 7 (maybe, can be adjusted to challenge players of level 10).
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Outline Major:
ACT 1
Scene 1: the Player Characters are hanging in one of the Agorae near the Musaeum. Everything changes, however, when crash is heard and they see someone breaking into one of the libraries of the College.
Inside, are the assailants, looking through scrolls and books for SOMETHING. The robbers are dressed in black, with a white cobra embroidered on their shoulders. The PCs get into an altercation. during the fight, the robbers reveal that they are Serpentfolk.
Discovered, the Serpentfolk turn tail and run, leaving behind half of an ancient scroll.
Scene 2: The PCs to get the scroll translated by a guru sage who lives in a temple almost outside the city limits. The guru reveals that the scroll talks about the Fang of Domination. The Fang is located in the city of Nastileth, and according to legend, Nastileth is under the city of Phoenicia. If the PCs want to retrieve the Fang, the guru gives the team the Compass of Desire -- a compass that points in the direction of what ever the holder desires the most.
Scene 3: The PCs resupply in the Undermarket. The Tell under Phoenicia has become quite the source for wealth, and a lot of mercenaries, thieves, and ne'er-do-wells: i.e. "Adventurers" come to Phoenicia to strike it rich! Here, they can resupply for their expedition under the city.
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ACT II: Into the Depths
Scene 1: Part of their resupply efforts, the PCs may be invited into the slave market. Here they can purchase a slave or two to help them delve into the darkest part of the city (henchbeings [not necessarily gnomes], link boys, other potential slaves). The Slave Market is protected by a strong ogre mage and a lizard man. These should be signs that the PCs have left what they think of as home. All that is left is to delve the sewers.
Sewer Encounters:
1. A company of Ratmen (re: See Sword and Sorcery's Creature Collection) or a Rat King.
2. five goblins led by a blue.
3. a Brain Mole.
4. Spiders of Unusual Size.
Scene 2: Azaghâl
Azaghâl is what is left of a Dwarven City. Much of it is underground, and it's grand in it's scope. Player characters who desire to find the Fang should have the compass.
Dwarven City Encounters:
1. Blacksmith -- This area is used for making weapons. Now goblins inhabit it. Goblins 5x.
2. Restaurant -- any food left here has spoiled, turned to soil, or stale. More goblins foraging here.
3. Library. Here, the group finds four serpentfolk led by a serpentfolk mage.
4. Foundry. Here, the group encounters Duergar and three derro. They are all warriors and they attack the party.
5. Throne Room. The group gets here, and they find a Serpentfolk mage sitting on the throne.
6-10. Abandoned residences.
11. Treasure Room.
12-15. Abandoned Residences. Two of these are harboring goblins. One of them is playing with a crysmal.
16. Entrance into Ang Gazhal. This is located behind the throne room, and it can be opened only by a pressure button.
Scene 3: Ang Gazhal.
This human Neolithic city is also a labyrinthine passage.
encounters:
1. Thought Eater.
2. Psychic Ghost.
3. A drow advance scouting party.
4. A temporal filcher.
5. A minotaur.
Scene 4.
Nastileth, which is in a large cavern and has serpent motifs carved on it's gate.