Borca adventures plan
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 2:40 pm
In my campaign, after Bleak House, the PCs have to go to Levkarest, as they promised they will enquire the vanishing of many women around the Cathedral.
A) CATHEDRAL VANISHING
Since the women who vanished are often look-alike of Ivana Boritsi (who is a look-alike of Ezra), for the moment, the PCs suspect Ivana as the one killing these woman in exchange for her eternal youth.
This is of course false as the problem is the Gargoyle of the Cathedral (BoSorrows , by Andrew Cermak)
I'm wondering as how to make this enquiry and investigation interesting. The woman disappear about once or a few times per month only, so there is plenty of spare time in between.
They will investigate the few last vanishing, but I need to plan a few things to bring them in the right direction, as well as red herrings and make it all fun.
I will make clear that this all started when the Cathedral was inaugurated, to make a link with the Sculptor who made the Gargoyle.
Meanwhile, the Gargoyle has an obsession with Ivana, as she is the perfect image of Ezra.
B) IVANA NEEDS THEM
At one point where they will know it is a monstrous thing they are looking for (perhaps after witnessing it), they have a meeting with Ivana or Nostalia.
Ivana is worrying "as she saw a large monster at her window" last night, and she feels she needs protection.
The Juggler is away for two weeks "for family business". Ivana says he leaves every year at this time but do not know why or where (another GC mystery to solve later...)
Since three months, the PCs (unwillingly) write her "reports" of their actions so she knows they are capable and useful. Thus she asking them for protection. Can they refuse?
So she asks them to spend the nights in Misericordia's castle with her (that should please them ). They see the monster one night but it flees when the PCs attack.
And perhaps give them opportunities to explore the place ...
Perhaps an ongoing flirt with a PC (there were a few hints of that before), we'll see where it goes ...
C) IVAN ENTERS THE DANCE
They have a private lunch in an eaterie in Levkarest with Nostalia, to give them info or whatever.
Suddenly Ivan crashes the room, a bottle of wine in hand. He wanted to meet the heroes (from hearing of a previous good deed they made) and have wine with them. He brought a very good vintage of a famous Invidian Château and opens it.
(Ivan wants to know Ivana's eternal youth secret. He plans to give the heroes wine tainted with Borrowed Time, the poison where they have to take the antidote every day unless they nearly die. But it won't work that way...)
Nostalia will grab a pitcher of water and strongly suggest the PCs drink water before tasting the wine, "to cleanse their palate before".
Nosalia and some PCs drink the wine (or Ivan is very offended)
Nostalia teases Ivan over the exquisite taste of this bottle "isn't it, Sir Ivan? Can you show us the full extent of your wine knowledge and tell us ignorants what we should be finding as we taste the wine?" (She is a bitch as knows he can't taste anything). Ivan is a bit angry and keeps it in check.
At one point, Nostalia leaves the private room for the restrooms, leaving the PCs alone with Ivan. Then, he menaces the PCs, telling them they just drank Borrowed Time (with a description). He tells them he knows they are close to Ivana these days so they will get the final antidote only when they will bring him the secret he starves for!
Nostalia is back and Ivan shortly leaves.
She asked them if he menaced the PCs, and tell them their informants told them he would soon do such a thing. In the pitcher of water was a protection against ingested poison, so they are NOT under Borrowed Time.
She suggests the PCs play along and make Ivan believe they are poisoned and under his control.
At night, they meet an agent of Ivan, who, at their first encounter, gives them just five doses of daily antidote (they are six), "to motivate them", a cruel teasing. Every night, they meet this person and get the antidotes...
Possible false information transmitted to Ivan by Ivana through this channel?
X) Icon of Danzig side trek.
Lollar Boritsi will again ask the PCs about the Icon located in Ivana's bedroom.
"We just would like to study it a few hours then bring it back, she won't notice", he says
But his plan is to replace it with a forgery.
X) IVAN TRIES AGAIN
At one point, Ivan will understand the heroes are not under his control. He will have the PCs tailed by an informant, and will have a woman wrongly accusing one of the PCs of assault, to give them trouble.
Arrest by local police (led by Victor Momeala)
The PCs will have to wait until Ivana clears the matter and the PCs are losing time.
X) IVAN TRIES AGAIN PART II
Ivan found Severin's weakness (he loves Ivana in secret) and will manipulate him in causing trouble to the PCs.
I haven't thought of this yet, how it could go.
D) GARGOYLE ATTACK
One evening, Ivana has to be outside for an annual midnight feast.
On the way there, the Gargoyle attacks and tries to snatch her away. Ivana's poison is without effect on the beast.
And the PCs (hopefully) defeats the beast, or drive it away.
E) The DEATHSTONE
After, Ivana asks them about having a conversation with a dead person!
During the GC, the Deathstone emited voices and a servant came to Ivana to tell her. But she was with Ivan, who was crying in fear over the GC troubles. She waved the servant away. Problem is, Ivan killed the servant the next day so the servant would not tell of his cowardice, so Ivana never knew what were these voices coming out of the Deathstone...
Can the PCs contact the spirit of the dead servant and ask him? (what message?)
Also, as she now trusts the PCs, so she could ask them to identify the Deathstone's magic.
Then she will learn of the problems that will arise soon if she makes many more ermordenungs (the spirits will exit the rock).
I haven't thought a course of action after this.
F) IVAN ATTACKS and END OF IVAN?
*** possibility to explore *** Haven't an idea on how for the moment, but after this attack on the PCs, Ivana is fed up and approves an assassination attempt on Ivan.
Details to be thought of.
---
This is my Borcan plan for the moment. Ideas welcomed!
I need to infuse this plan with a few cool battle encounters.
A) CATHEDRAL VANISHING
Since the women who vanished are often look-alike of Ivana Boritsi (who is a look-alike of Ezra), for the moment, the PCs suspect Ivana as the one killing these woman in exchange for her eternal youth.
This is of course false as the problem is the Gargoyle of the Cathedral (BoSorrows , by Andrew Cermak)
I'm wondering as how to make this enquiry and investigation interesting. The woman disappear about once or a few times per month only, so there is plenty of spare time in between.
They will investigate the few last vanishing, but I need to plan a few things to bring them in the right direction, as well as red herrings and make it all fun.
I will make clear that this all started when the Cathedral was inaugurated, to make a link with the Sculptor who made the Gargoyle.
Meanwhile, the Gargoyle has an obsession with Ivana, as she is the perfect image of Ezra.
B) IVANA NEEDS THEM
At one point where they will know it is a monstrous thing they are looking for (perhaps after witnessing it), they have a meeting with Ivana or Nostalia.
Ivana is worrying "as she saw a large monster at her window" last night, and she feels she needs protection.
The Juggler is away for two weeks "for family business". Ivana says he leaves every year at this time but do not know why or where (another GC mystery to solve later...)
Since three months, the PCs (unwillingly) write her "reports" of their actions so she knows they are capable and useful. Thus she asking them for protection. Can they refuse?
So she asks them to spend the nights in Misericordia's castle with her (that should please them ). They see the monster one night but it flees when the PCs attack.
And perhaps give them opportunities to explore the place ...
Perhaps an ongoing flirt with a PC (there were a few hints of that before), we'll see where it goes ...
C) IVAN ENTERS THE DANCE
They have a private lunch in an eaterie in Levkarest with Nostalia, to give them info or whatever.
Suddenly Ivan crashes the room, a bottle of wine in hand. He wanted to meet the heroes (from hearing of a previous good deed they made) and have wine with them. He brought a very good vintage of a famous Invidian Château and opens it.
(Ivan wants to know Ivana's eternal youth secret. He plans to give the heroes wine tainted with Borrowed Time, the poison where they have to take the antidote every day unless they nearly die. But it won't work that way...)
Nostalia will grab a pitcher of water and strongly suggest the PCs drink water before tasting the wine, "to cleanse their palate before".
Nosalia and some PCs drink the wine (or Ivan is very offended)
Nostalia teases Ivan over the exquisite taste of this bottle "isn't it, Sir Ivan? Can you show us the full extent of your wine knowledge and tell us ignorants what we should be finding as we taste the wine?" (She is a bitch as knows he can't taste anything). Ivan is a bit angry and keeps it in check.
At one point, Nostalia leaves the private room for the restrooms, leaving the PCs alone with Ivan. Then, he menaces the PCs, telling them they just drank Borrowed Time (with a description). He tells them he knows they are close to Ivana these days so they will get the final antidote only when they will bring him the secret he starves for!
Nostalia is back and Ivan shortly leaves.
She asked them if he menaced the PCs, and tell them their informants told them he would soon do such a thing. In the pitcher of water was a protection against ingested poison, so they are NOT under Borrowed Time.
She suggests the PCs play along and make Ivan believe they are poisoned and under his control.
At night, they meet an agent of Ivan, who, at their first encounter, gives them just five doses of daily antidote (they are six), "to motivate them", a cruel teasing. Every night, they meet this person and get the antidotes...
Possible false information transmitted to Ivan by Ivana through this channel?
X) Icon of Danzig side trek.
Lollar Boritsi will again ask the PCs about the Icon located in Ivana's bedroom.
"We just would like to study it a few hours then bring it back, she won't notice", he says
But his plan is to replace it with a forgery.
X) IVAN TRIES AGAIN
At one point, Ivan will understand the heroes are not under his control. He will have the PCs tailed by an informant, and will have a woman wrongly accusing one of the PCs of assault, to give them trouble.
Arrest by local police (led by Victor Momeala)
The PCs will have to wait until Ivana clears the matter and the PCs are losing time.
X) IVAN TRIES AGAIN PART II
Ivan found Severin's weakness (he loves Ivana in secret) and will manipulate him in causing trouble to the PCs.
I haven't thought of this yet, how it could go.
D) GARGOYLE ATTACK
One evening, Ivana has to be outside for an annual midnight feast.
On the way there, the Gargoyle attacks and tries to snatch her away. Ivana's poison is without effect on the beast.
And the PCs (hopefully) defeats the beast, or drive it away.
E) The DEATHSTONE
After, Ivana asks them about having a conversation with a dead person!
During the GC, the Deathstone emited voices and a servant came to Ivana to tell her. But she was with Ivan, who was crying in fear over the GC troubles. She waved the servant away. Problem is, Ivan killed the servant the next day so the servant would not tell of his cowardice, so Ivana never knew what were these voices coming out of the Deathstone...
Can the PCs contact the spirit of the dead servant and ask him? (what message?)
Also, as she now trusts the PCs, so she could ask them to identify the Deathstone's magic.
Then she will learn of the problems that will arise soon if she makes many more ermordenungs (the spirits will exit the rock).
I haven't thought a course of action after this.
F) IVAN ATTACKS and END OF IVAN?
*** possibility to explore *** Haven't an idea on how for the moment, but after this attack on the PCs, Ivana is fed up and approves an assassination attempt on Ivan.
Details to be thought of.
---
This is my Borcan plan for the moment. Ideas welcomed!
I need to infuse this plan with a few cool battle encounters.