Update on the "The Blade of Takshaka", aka "The Norukar Adventure"

I just wanted to give an update on the adventure I'm working on, "The Blade of Takshaka". I got a LOT written this weekend! I'm currently working on the Act II dungeon crawl into the bowels of the Undercity of Norukar. After that I'll tackle the Act III masquerade party at a nobleman's penthouse.

Then I'll clean it up and fill in some gaps - special chase rules, NPC stats, random tables, etc.

Here's a preview of the basic plot.

Chapter 1: The Messenger

The player characters are in the city of Norukar and are in a position where they could use some temporary work. Perhaps they are actively seeking employment, calling upon contacts or simply spreading the word that they’re available. Perhaps they are relaxing in between regular jobs, relying on their reputation alone to bring work their way. In any case, their strategy pays off. A messenger seeks out the player characters with an offer of employment.

The messenger, dressed in the livery of a noble house, informs the player characters that they have been summoned to a private meeting with Duke Karn Rylar, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the City of Norukar. 

The Office of the Exchequer is responsible for the collection and management of the city’s taxes, tariffs, and duties.  The office controls the finances and treasury of the Kingdom of Norukar and is considered one of the most powerful offices within the kingdom. The chancellor is the head of the office and answers directly to Queen Chador. The position of chancellor is equivalent to that of treasurer. Since the chancellor controls the purse-strings of the kingdom, his favor is considered extremely valuable, making him one of the most politically powerful individuals in Norukar.

The Duke wishes to hire the player characters to investigate a theft, and is offering a substantial remuneration of 350 golden crowns (+25 wealth) each for the return of the stolen object. An aero-coach limousine is waiting outside to transport them to the duke’s penthouse apartment for additional details. The aero-coach is a luxury model and is richly appointed and fully stocked with the finest libations.

Assuming the player characters board the limousine, they will be whisked upwards through the soaring towers and buzzing aero-traffic of Norukar. The journey takes only a few minutes as the craft passes through the upper-levels of the stepped-towers, like impossibly-tall ziggurats stretched into the sky, before landing on a platform outside the penthouse apartment atop Tower Kolinor, one of the city’s more opulent towers. Another smaller aero-coach coupe is parked nearby.

The player characters are met at the landing by a well-dressed Jinx, a domestic slave and butler. They are escorted through an ornate entrance manned by two house guards wearing the livery of the duke. They are seated in a sumptuous office filled with curios and relics of bygone civilizations. The butler offers refreshment to anyone wishing one and attends to the needs of the player characters while they wait.

(side-bar table for generating curios)

The Duke Makes an Offer

After a few moments, a man dressed like a noble enters the room and dismisses the slave. The man is in his mid-fifties with a few wrinkles and salt-and-pepper hair. He is wearing a long jacket over a fine silk doublet. He is accompanied by a house guard, an officer with the rank of Major. The major is in his thirties, an obvious military veteran.

“Thank you for coming. My name is Duke Karn Rylar. I am Chancellor of the Exchequer of the City of Norukar. This is Major Nord, my head of household security. As you may have guessed, I am a collector of rare antiquities. Last night, one or more intruders entered into my penthouse and purloined an object from my collection, a sacrificial dagger that once belonged to Takshaka, the First Raga of the Kingdom of Ragana, who ruled southwest Markania five millennia ago. In its place, they left this forgery.” The duke presents an exotic knife of the finest quality with two thin blades like the fangs of a serpent. The knife’s hilt is encrusted with what appear to be jewels and precious stones. Strange curved forms are carved into the blades. The pommel resembles a snake’s rattle. The duke allows any player character who so wishes to inspect the knife closely. “It may look authentic, but to the trained eye, it is an obvious forgery.”

He takes a drink of tea before continuing, “This theft comes at an inopportune time for me. I am in the middle of delicate negotiations with the ambassador of the Kingdom of Ragana, and I planned to present this dagger as a gift to the ambassador.”

 “Normally, I would put my own agents on this case, or contact the local constables. However, my own men are occupied on another, more pressing matter, and the local constabulary is under the control of the brother of my chief political rival, Count Garanni. I dare say they would offer me little real assistance on such a trivial matter, especially after the recent budgetary cutbacks, for which they largely hold me accountable.”

“Therefore, I have sought the assistance of, shall we say, independent investigators, off the official records, who can be more discrete. Your services came highly recommended.”

 “I need you to recover the stolen artifact before the conclusion of negotiations in a week’s time. If you succeed, you will each be paid 350 golden crowns (+25 Wealth). If you fail, you will each be compensated 10 golden crowns (+5 Wealth) for your time.”

He puts his tea down, opens a drawer in his desk, and removes some papers, “During your investigation, you will carry my personal warrant. This will grant you the temporary authority to temporarily detain individuals for questioning, carry and use restricted weapons and equipment, and access normally forbidden locations. You will be operating under my authority and responsibility.”

“Now that you’ve heard my offer, will accept this mission?”

Allow the player characters to discuss and/or negotiate if they wish.

If they decline the mission, the duke sighs, “That’s too bad. I was hoping I’d be able to employ your services, but I understand. I’ll have Greb transport you wherever you’d like to go. Here is a golden crown each for your trouble (+0 Wealth).  I trust you’ll show discretion regarding our meeting. But before you go, can you recommend anyone else who might be up to the task?”

If they accept the mission, the duke slaps his desk in excitement, “Excellent! Major Nord will be able to brief you on the details of the theft and answer any questions.”