Expulsior Tome – Encounter – CftD 3

This encounter is designed to be the third encounter in the “Chalice for the Devourer” beta testing Adventure. It can also be adapted to for any quest giving NPC that players can get information from and offers payment.

Overview

Type: Social

This scenario is a conversation between our heroes and Expulsior Tome. He will be offering them the main quest in this adventure and can provide them with additional information. The players will need to use social skills like Inquiry to get more information on the quest. Then they will negotiate their pay using the bartering skill. The players will improve their potential pay but having more success in the Inquiry session. Players should be informed of this up front.

Location: In the Kennesaw Sheriff’s office.

Outline:

• Introduction
• Inquiry Phase
• Negotiation Phase
• Post Action (“Chalice for the Devourer” Adventure)

NPCs:

• Allied:
  • Expulsior Tome
• Neutral
  • Joseph Cartage
• Hostile
  • None

Location

Map should be a western sheriff’s office/jail interior. Joseph Cartage should be inside a cell. Player characters, the Sheriff and the Expulsior should be in the office. Map is optional as this is a social encounter and movement, and location is not part of the game play.

Introduction

Our heroes have just won the duel and are back at the Sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Scooter addresses the player characters: “Thank you for coming, you all have some impressive skill with violence and the Expulsior here is in need of protection. I would escort him myself if I didn’t know this damn down would burn itself down in my or my deputies’ absence.”

Players may ask the Sheriff questions at this point, when that is concluded the Expulsior will continue.

“Thank you for coming to hear my needs. I’ll give you the basics and then answer any questions you may have. As an Expulsior in the Church of the Beloved Mother, it is my duty to expulse paranormal and even divine possessions. I was summoned by a local priest when they discovered Joseph Cartage in a ritual to summon a possession. They thought it was just a paranormal situation.

When I arrived, I found him to have nearly completed a chalicary ritual to become a vessel for a lesser god, in this instance the god of devouring, who’s name I shall not even speak.

Divine possessions cannot be expulsed through common rituals but must be confronted with relics. So I place the prisoner in a captivation mask and am transporting him to the Reliquary at Plateveta where I can complete the expulsion.

We were attacked by a hoard of Karachnids in-route to Terrence. The very presence of a nearly complete Chalice Vessel is attracting evil, disaster and violence. My previous escort was nearly wiped out as you saw when we disembarked the train.

I’d like to hire you escort me the remainder of the way to the Reliquary.”

Inquiry Phase

The players may ask Expulsior Tome questions at this point. They should make an Inquiry check prior to asking the question and the higher they roll, the more detailed answer you should give them. Reference the pages on the characters and factions in this site to provide answers.

4 Rounds of Questions, players take turns making the inquiry checks and asking their questions. The phase is done after each player has asked 4 questions or sooner if the players are satisfied with the answers they’ve received. Note: Players may also use a social buff skill like Smooth Words prior to asking their question for improved results

Scoring – The players receive points for the quality of their questions that then is used in the payment table to determine their reward for participation in the quest.

Each player has their own point total, which will carry over to resolution after the negotiation phase.

Inquiry Result	Points Per Question
Inane	1
Simple	2
Easy	3
Normal	4
Challenging	5
Difficult	6
Onerous	7

Negotiation Phase

Players may use social buff skills such as Smooth Words prior to bartering.

1 Round – Bartering – Players barter against Expulsior Tome for their payment. This is a single round; each player plays their hand and wagers separately.

Results:

Loose – wager 7+ -48 points
Loose – wager 4-6 -32 Points
Loose – wager 1-3 -16 points
tie – No Change
Win – wager 1-3 +16 Points
Win – wager 4-6 +32 Points
Win – wager 7+ +48 Points

Total Player Points	Up Front Payment	Completion Payment
None or Negative	$15	$15
1-16 Points	$15	$20
17-32	$20	$20
33-48	$20	$25
49-64	$25	$25
65-80	$30	$30
81-96	$40	$40
97-112	$50	$50
113-128	$55	$75
129-144	$60	$100
145+	$75	$125

Post Action

The players and the Expulsior must select a mode of transportation and route to reach the Reliquary. If a consensus is not reached, a single round of bartering is done, including the Expulsior who will favor the use of the train. He will not agree to anything but the most direct route for any mode of transportation.

Options:

Via Train – 3 days, no additional cost

Via River Boat – 4 days, cost of $150 split equally between all players and the Expulsior

Via Stagecoach – 5 days, cost of $100 split equally between all players and the Expulsior