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→Part 2 Black Silver
Send to the players before the game :
3rd of May 1345, Provins (Kingdom of France) The Saint-Quiriace trade fair used to be the wealthiest gathering of all Christendom. Bankers from Florence would meet merchants from Byzantium and Troy. But with the fair declining, debts started accumulating. Ruined silk traders had to explore more dangerous ventures. And for a pious soul, the road to decadence has only one dead end. ⚜️⚜️⚜️💀💀💀
=Intro - The Skeleton Merchant=
Their most sold product is some poisons that local merchants buy to shoot in each other's legs.
Another very profitable operation is the counterfeiting of silver coins.They chose to counterfeit old coins, that's why they make fake "Dennier Provinois"
They blackmail a powerful local knight hopsitaller and force him to let them sneak some iron into out the minting room through a hidden tunnel punch and dilute it in very small quantities into all the coins being minted. They then steal some silver and dilute they put it in large quantities to produce the counterfeit coins back at night.
They managed to make an alloy of coins that looks genuine but uses much much less silver. Those coins and all their profits are used to finance their last activity : Corpse trafficking.
The Doctor Theobald Shuplice is one of their men who will look for anonymous corpses at the obituary department of the local medical university.
He will then exchange those coffins with coffins full or earth and store the corpses before shipping in a secret cave.
He puts some coins in the coffin to bribe the people who bring him the corpses.
Being anonymous to begin with, those missing corpses are much less likely to be discovered.
-Why did Eugène buy corpses ? To ship where ? For what reason ?
-Is Eugène a person or an organisation ?
{{Ambiance Track
| 5min = | 15min = A young canon is caught In the street they pass by the local guard. In fact his family was banned from the fair three year ago Ceasar tower and cannot stay in Provins during the fair. He have also been banned from his home citynotice its might. (the local tribunals could put very strong economical sentences like this)| 30min 15min = Some canons pass in all the rooms to spread smoke. It's called fulmigation. The point is to try to disinfect. The players notice lots of dark blue cloth drying. Explain that the « provins blue » was a color of cloth only possible here because the river of provins has special properties.| 30min = A person wakes up during his necropsy and dies right after. Explain that, in the middle age, it was very hard to know if someone was dead or not.| 45min = In the church there’s a statue of a skeleton. They notice a coin put as an offering. It is a coin of provins| 60min = Monks are found studying an open corpse. This is illegal and considered heresy. Players can choose to prosecute them or not.| 45min = There is a currency that only serves during the fair. The "denier provinois". The currency is minted by the Hospitaller Knights of the area. It's a privilege given to the city, as to avoid currency problems during the fair. Some people come propose them to buy some.
At this point, their contact informs them that Eugène Clavicule has reserved a booth for the fair.
| 60min 75min = A medical monster moves on the streets. He is heavily deformed. He was invited by the Canons to be examined.| 75min = A person wakes up during his necropsy and dies right after. Explain that, in the middle age, it was very hard to know if someone was dead or not.
| 90min = At the end of the atmosphere track, if the players still haven't found the cave. Their contact understands that the doctor Shuplice gave counterfeit coins each time he paid for funerals. They have to start investigate that immediately.
If they discover the origin, they have reinforcements.
Their contact, Dr. Canon Pierre Therici have found Eugène ClavisuleClavicule's coffin. They go to grave, he got his coffing removed and they are in the obituary department and ready to open Eugène Clavicule's coffinit. It's full of earthwith just one silver coin. It's a "dennier provinois" a currency that is a hundred years old. No corpse inside. That's very suspicious. When they open the coffin '''Music : Alone in the Dark Mysteries'''
He was found dead on public roads and nothing could identify him. Very likely just vagabond.
He had no relatives so normally had to be buried in a mass grave.
But a generous donor paid for the funeral in an individual coffin. And he decided that he is named Eugene Clavivule, he pretended he knew him.
Dr. Theobald Shuplice is the name of the donor.
If they ask : indeed he pays for a lot of anonymous to be buried. If they open those graves, all corpses are missing.
All those coffins were traded during transport with coffins full of earth.(Some of them with coins, some without)
Theobald Shuplice come every week. He will be back soon.
If they attack him or torture him. He will not tell them anything. On himself they can find a letter. He's about to resign. He works in for the university's administrative departmentsilk guild. Then they can find his office and his accounting book.
Another way to solve this is if a player hides inside a coffin. He will then be transported to the cave.
The cellar is filled with about fifty corpses ready to be shipped. But all documents are encrypted. No way to know where they should be shipped and why.
There are also money chests full of silver coins. A huge fortune in fact in silver denier provinois. Very suspiciousbecause this currency is a hundred years old.
Why buying corpses ? Where to ship them ? This scenario doesn't answer this mystery.
'''Normal (before arriving at the Hospitaller): Normal Departement Nécrologique'''
After leaving the scene, they realise that those silver pennies have a strange black hue. They suspect it's a counterfeit and will have to try and understand who is responsible for their creation.
This scene illustrates how Hospitallers are both harmless monks, doctors and deadly warriors.
Launch the music '''Watchmen(OST 2009) - Pruit Igoe and Prophecies'''
All the hopsitallers are drawn to a room where they have their annual meeting.
This scene is used to illustrate the power of the hopsitallers and their possible links to the templars, all power people are part of their organisation.
Players are locked in a room. Behind there is a man with a mask. It's the Jean de la Maison de Dieu, but they can't recognise him.
He tells them to leave him alone. He tries to convince them to stop the prosecution. He begs them even. If they try to bash the doors, he leaves. They can't get him.
Bolts should feel very impressive and powerful, destroying furnitures and all.
Either the players find a good way out or one of them is injured.
After the end of the scenario they will have to explain themselves to the inquisition
}}
There is a real fortune in coins piled up in a chest. Only coins of black silver, they are dennier provinois. Counterfeit Those coins of where used during the upcoming faira hundred years ago but aren't produced anymore.
Their goal is to discover who made them.
Those coins are where minted every year by a long time ago under supervision of the local Hopstialler commanderyTemplars in the "Ferme aux Templiers". It's was a privilege given by the king to the city.
The goal is to avoid currency change problems during the fair, so everything is bough and sold in this neutral currency.
The punch are now kept by the Hospitalers.
The counterfeits are good except for the metal, which is a bit dark.
Action: Players can get to visit the local hospitaller commandery
'''Normal (once arrived at the Knights Hospitaller): Normal Commanderie Templière'''
Change music once they are in the hospitaller buildings : '''Normal Commanderie Templière'''
Everyone is in brown coats, some in white black coats (the nobles ones).All have a red white cross on their clothes.
It is a large fortified building. The decoration is military but rich.
This results in incredibly clean clothes and rooms. Also glass windows in some rooms. Great quality candles etc...
The head of minting this commanderie will do his best to help them.
The "Punches" are still in place on in the minting machinesvault archive (not the main vault with their gold). (Counterfeiting Counterfeiters comes at night, take the Punch, use them, put them back.)
Access to the room is strictly controlled. No entry or exit without being controlled.
Action: There is a hatch hidden on the ground. Under a box. Eye of the detail doesn't spot it, unless players specifically search for a hidden door.
This is where counterfeiters come in or out.
It's a tunnel that lead leads to the outsidecatacombs. They find iron bars inside the tunnel also. Basically, the counterfeiters added some iron in very small proportions The players try to all search for the genuine coinscatacombs, and used this way to steal some real silver. Then they mixed but it's a bit of silver and a lot of iron to make fake ones. But those bars of iron couldn't get in the hopsitallers building without being noticedcomplete labyrinth, no chance. Who bought them ? Why ?
They find punching equipments inside the tunnel as well as lots of ingots of silver, copper, lead and iron, and other metals. Too many of them. Those metals cannot be bought by just anyone.
Once they come to talk to him, it is raining, he's at a balcony.
He tells them he had no choice and zero hope to survive if he didn't cooperate.
In his office, lots of letters written by Eugène Clavicule, but encrypted. It's a proof he was a tool and accomplice.
Reward for completing the scenario track : Lots of people are witness to him jumpingJean dying. So the players are not accused of his murder.
=Part 3 The Provins trade fair=
'''Normal: Gwent Full Mix Witcher 3 then Normal Commanderie Templière''' '''Creepy 1 (meeting with the fortune teller): Normal Horreurr Cérulée''' '''Creepy 2 (alternative): Flippant, le diable est dans la boite'''
The Provins trade fair is a major economic event in the region. Merchants from all around the world attend to sell goods. It is the heart of economic activities in the city if not the region. It used to be much much bigger, but it is still a meaningful event.
Eugène Clavicule has a booth at the fair. Booths are very expensive. The players have to investigate.
When the players arrive at his booth. It is completely empty. The table is there, the umbrella is there (both are provided by the city) but the booth is empty !Only one item on the booth : There’s a lizard drawn on the table.
Their goal is to find Eugène Clavilcule.
The fair decides the prices of different commodities.
The Clothes Merchants Guild decided a very high price for sheets.
Everyone is angry about it, it creates a scandal.
The crowd hoes them.
The soldiers arrive to evacuate them. *22min - A tavern is evacuated because In the mess, there’s a dead merchant is found dead poisoned in the tavern*30min-'''Music : Gwent theme 1 Witcher 3'''Fight of the dragon and the lizardcrowd, poisoned. Every years, two team fights :One He has a lizard toy made of wood on the top of a pole. The others have a dragonprovins coin in his purse.They try to steal each other‘’’Music : Chant_Entrapment-8’’'s flowers attached to their neck.Their jaws can be mechanically animates.The dragon team made their dragon breathe fire| 45min = Two merchants emerge from the tribunal, there’s an official speech that because he didn’t pay his debts, he is now exiled from provins and from his home city. (by pressing on a pulveriser throwing alcohol, then igniting itExplain that the courts of Provins had this power)Some people catch fire and jump in a fontain.It makes everyone laughAs he speaks, people drink a lotthe judge is being startled, there are someone threw a lot of people singingcoin into his mouth. *45min-Players are attacked by bulliesHe dies just after.They are in the same lane as a merchant, who is carried away by the bullies or killed on the spot.*52min‘’’Music : Hail This Nightmare -A merchant sleeps on his stall, he is dead. Poisoned.BloodBorne’’'*| 60min-'''Music : Access = ‘’’Access the Animus (debut rapide)’’'''A knife thrower throws knives and kills his accomplice. He continues to launch knifes aggressively on him until the guard stops him. He seems possessed.The They are in a crowd is shocked. Then his accomplice wakes up and laughsAll players roll.It was Anyone who got a 1 get stabbed with a jokepoisonous dagger. '''Music : Gwent Drink Up, There_s More! Witcher 3''' Everyone laughs harder and drinks even moreThey go Insane. *67min-A merchant runs towards Impossible to see where the players and dies in their arms. Poisonedblow came from.*| 75min= ‘’’Music : Behelit -Berserk’’'''Music : Gwent theme 1 Witcher 3'''There is They see a procession of people man in the distance on the city walls with pork masksa skull mask. Drunken people fill the streetsHe look at them, it becomes the feast of foolssalute then jumps backwards and disappear.They carry are not sure if it was a guy on a tank he is huge, drinking alcohol constantly. He's barely movingdream or not.During the processionDown he city wall, they find a dead merchant is attacked by an assassin with a death mask.The assassin then turns against the players if they try to intervenePoisoned.*| 90min-= A person with a death mask comes to see them and offers them a drink.
He insists.
They are surrounded by brigands with small daggers.
During the fight, they all receive poisoned daggers.
They are all poisoned. They'll feel unweel until the rest of the scenario, they can't use any mind based talents.are all « Insane »
They see of their assaliants run away and reach the entrance of their hideout.
Penalty if they reach the end of the ambiance track : They are poisoned. They can't use any mind based talents.« Insane » }}
Their goal is to find Eugène Clavicle
But his booth is empty !There’s a lizard drawn on the table.
Action: There Knowledge general need a roll otherwise, they ask the locals. The lizard is someone who constantly watches the boothsymbol of the Saint Ayoul Church in ville basse. People who stop at They go there and find the booth and then look in same lizard carved on the back of the church, but that’s it.Big crowd can see him and come to himaround.(proof that they know the trick)
Action: There is someone who constantly watches the lizard. The idea is that if he trust it’s a good customer, he will come to them later and explain the trick. The trick is, people who stop at the lizard and then look in the crowd can see him and come to him.(proof that they know the trick). Eugene has mostly regular customers and only rarely accept to deal with new faces, hence this method is a good way to avoid being followed.Action: Pretend or pay someone to pretend to be a customer. If they look like one he will come to them.
The vigil will then lead them to the fortune teller.
'''Music at the fortuneteller's hideout : Flippant, le diable est dans la boite'boite’''
He knocks at the door and say
Potions, charms, books, animal parts. Some live rats in cage also.
She invites them to pick a card, so she can know them better. They have a choice between all those items, show the players the picture associated with it(She does that to impress customers.And have them write on their character sheet which item they are associated to :)
She pours on black and red liquid on it and read the pattern.
She reads and see her own future (she has the Prowess Revelation ) : she understand what the players are.
She takes a step back and drinks a poison and dies.
‘’’Music : Behelit - Berserk‘''
If they refuse that she reads their future of if they manage to stop her of cure her, she does not die.
Anyhow, she won't talk, torture is useless too. Unless with the interrogate skill, in which case she directs them to the next sequence.
In her home, they find :
'''Normal: Normal Bruit Noirs'''
They have found the entrance of Eugène's hideout. But how to find his actual location ?
Their goal is to find and kill Eugène.
The other runs away at incredible speed, he's bleeding. The players can follow his bloody footsteps until the room with the "accountant"
Penalty for reaching the end of the ambiance track : One player is delirious.
}}
Their goal is to find the Eugène Clavicule and kill him.
They have few trump cards if the players have the following talents :
Eye of the detail : If the player specifically asks for tracks on the walls of markings made by crates. He can go to the next room.
Action: It's up to them to find a way to defeat him or pass by him.
If a player has a combat quality in relation to duels« monsters » , he can blind him.
But impossible to defeat him.
===Room 6 : Eugène===
'''Music Haunter Gaunter O Dim'''
They then arrive on the treasure of Eugene Clavicle.
He has dirty shoes and wet clothes but he doesn't move.
There's a dead templar hospitaller with his sword bloody dried on the floor.
If the player touches him, he falls appart. They killed Eugène Clavicule !
Searching through the eugene documents, they find one that says where letter asking Eugene to ship the corpses were to be deliveredthe "usual city ». And another that asked Eugene to send a vast shipment of poison to a very small village. For next scenario. All players gain one Feat and the player who holds the coin gains the [[Bone Coin]] Feat. ==Post Game Bonus== Send those to the players as a post game bonus : Fun fact, the medieval monetary system of 1 Pound = 20 Shillings = 240 Pennies have survived until 1971 in the UK. Initally, 1 Pound meant 1 Pound of Silver. So 1 Penny was 1 pound / 240 = 3g of silver. The Provins trade faire was twice a year, the Saint-Quiriace Fair was in May and Saint-Ayoul was in Sept/Oct named after the two churches in the high and low part of the city.
Provins Catacombs : [http://prima.wiki/images/a/a0/Provins_Catacombs.jpg]
[[Category:Scenario]]