Supper and Surprise
c. 100 ADW
Lady Mardell, a noblewoman, discreetly hires the Adventurer's Guild to act as security at a dinner party, fearing a theft. The target is The Grand Grimoire of Grotesqueries, a book on monster anatomy she recently acquired.
Referenced In
This module is referenced by the following lore entries:
Factions and Organizations
- Adventurer's GuildAlso known as Spear of Elina or Spear of the Goddess. A hundred years after the Dead Wars, the Guild has grown into a global hub for missions, with adventurers flocking to it from all over the world. It is currently led by Guild Master Master Thalin Fernstride in Kingdom Grand, with branches overseen by Guildmaster Teyla Coalmaker in Kdor, Elrin Veymar in Evenfell, and Alyndor "Aly" Marvale in New Arcanum. The Guild uses a ranking system, with new recruits earning a rank of Tin, Copper, or Brass; higher known ranks include Colbot, Steel, and Diamond. When Holt threatens to awaken He Who Slumbers, the four guilds unite their forces beneath Kingdom Grand.
- Council of GrandThe governing body of Kingdom Grand in the era c. 100 ADW. The City Watch of Grand is accountable to them and they oversee matters such as the city's supplies and taxes.
- Road Thieves GuildA notorious thieves' guild, also known as The Road, with its primary headquarters in the mining town of Red Hawk. They have an established command structure, with a Guild Master, Rath "The Gilded Maw", and a third-in-command, Brannik "The Ogre". The guild utilizes a network of young pickpockets in the city markets, who use a secret network of Hidden Tunnels to move about unseen. They are known to target specific valuable items, such as the Grand Grimoire of Grotesqueries and the Grimoire of Tyre and Merrick, trafficking them to buyers in other lands like Evenfell. Members are known for their cunning, expert parkour, and use of sneak attacks and cheap tricks like pocket sand.
Legendary Characters
- Darnik De RocheA human Lieutenant and Quartermaster with the City Watch of Grand. He has red hair and blue eyes, and wears a blue tabard with the sigil of Grand over a breastplate, and carries a halberd. He is kind but has an anxious manner, speaking quickly and seeming unsure of his command, though he is respected by his troops. He is very confident in his skills with numbers and record-keeping.
- Lady MardellA human noblewoman in her 60s from an old noble house in Grand. She is amiable and well-mannered, but eccentric, pretentious, and largely out of touch with the lives of commoners. She collects powerful and rare artifacts, like The Grand Grimoire of Grotesqueries, purely as decorative conversation pieces without understanding their true significance.
- Master Thalin FernstrideA towering Firbolg who serves as the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild in the century following the Dead Wars. He has long black hair braided down his back, piercing blue eyes, and dark green fur, and wears a forest green and white Gi. His personality is calm and measured, and he is known for giving inspiring speeches that relate adventuring to baking. He expects discipline and creativity from his guild members. As Holt's treachery unfolds, Thalin grows weary but resolute, coordinating the four great guilds against the threat beneath Kingdom Grand. After the tremors from the Elderdungeon crack the city's streets, he opens a fresh recruitment drive to replace the guild members lost in the fighting, and later leads the hunt for a saboteur hiding inside his own guild. Troubled by a caravan of strangely well-guarded stolen keepsakes bound west, he hand-picks a party and dispatches them across the Western Wastes to New Arcanum to work with his counterpart Alyndor "Aly" Marvale, convinced the thefts are somehow tied to Biscuit's fate.
Legendary Items & Artifacts
- Bottled BombA common, mass-produced item from New Arcanum. This volatile liquid is a thrown potion that explodes in a 5-foot radius, dealing force damage.
- Spear of ElinaA powerful, legendary artifact associated with the goddess Elina. In addition to being an alternative name for the Adventurer's Guild, a physical spear is known to exist and is considered a priceless collector's item.
- The Grand Grimoire of GrotesqueriesA book on monster anatomy, noted for its fascinating art. It is valuable enough to have been won at a noble auction and subsequently targeted for theft by the Road Thieves Guild.
Locations
- Kingdom GrandAlso known as First City, New Kingdom Grand, or New Grand. Formerly the only major civilized city in the region as of ADW 0, it is now the bustling heart of a more interconnected world, linked to other nations via teleportation gates. Holds an annual Festival of Peace to celebrate Elina's sacrifice in Dead Wars I. The tremors from the battle beneath the city cracked streets and toppled buildings across Kingdom Grand, scattering loose magic and prompting a fresh wave of Adventurers Guild recruitment.
- Mardell EstateThe lavish estate of the noble Lady Mardell. The house includes numerous rooms such as a ballroom, dining hall, and a gallery where Lady Mardell displays her collection of rare and powerful artifacts.