Intro
The players are stranded in a city that has been under siege for more than a month. Supplies are running low and starvation and disease are rampant. The city watch still enforces the rule of law but their grasp is tenuous and the siege engines rain terror and death daily. The city will fall and any sell swords are likely to perish as the invading emperor is not fond of mercenaries. The promised fat purses of silver no longer seem quite as enticing now that the city of Viltrium is ready to fall.
However, all is not lost a gaunt stranger strolled into the half collapsed tavern where your crew makes their base of operations and pressing a silver coin into your hand says that Lorekeeper of Viltrium seeks an audience. What a lord scholar such as the lorekeeper wants with a band of rogues is beyond your ken, but seeing precious few options – you accept.
Turns out the lorekeeper has a spell that he needs adventurers to help him find the components for. Most were obtained by other means, but time goes short. This spell will hide the fabulous garden of the Lorekeeper called Shem-tek-alil from anyone who would cause it harm, and by association anyone who resides in the garden once the ritual is completed.
NPCs
The Lorekeeper Shem-tek-alil: He has the braided eyebrows of a Kishite scholar and likely knows his way around the Wyrd which is the language of magic. Tall birdlike man with a hooked nose and the braided eyebrows of a Kishite Scholar. Wide darting eyes and a quavering tenored voice
The Lorekeeper’s Guardian Shak-Mal: A Huge and imposing olive skinned eunuch long thin mustachios and a very large tulwar tucked into his silk belt. Shak-Mal is lightening quick with the huge weapon. He speaks like Mike Tyson but rarely talks.
Places
The Tavern:
The City Crumbles
Fill a section of the pie each scene. When all are filled the city falls.
- Catapults rain down fire and rock down upon the section of the city where the party resides. Roll speed to avoid damage
- A section of the east wall has begun to crumble from the constant pounding – the captain of the free companies is looking for your crew to help shore up the ramparts
- Forces are massing at the north wall. Extra rations promised to anyone who volunteers. If the crew did not answer the captains call they are being actively sought by others in the free company.
- Fire has devastated the Bizarre and temporarily halted all black market activity.
- The defenders have run out of errors
- The invaders swarm in through breaches in the east and north walls and the gates fall inward as the city falls
Player Questions
- What is your free company called?
- Why are you ready to abandon your company?
- What fate has the captain promised will befall any deserters?
- Who is your captain and what makes her a dangerous person to cross?
- What is the unique feature of Viltrium that sets it apart from other cities?
Three Quests
The Lorekeeper requires the crew to complete three tasks to enable him to complete the ritual and save all from a bloody demise at the hands of the conquering army.
Myrrh resin
- A Thumbnail sized chunk of crystalline Myrrh resin. There are several places where this rare and volitile magical substance may be found
- Tik-Tuk Shen: as a level 3 bandit. Well known as the guy in the bazaar who can get you anything.
- The wizards tower. Full of magical traps.
- The ancient Commiphora tree in the palace garden, well guarded and well lit
3 Live Tower Finches
Small black birds with red tipped wings that inhabit close dark spaces.
The copper bowl of Kuk-Attuk
This is a small dungeon crawl with Cultists