H.o.B. Lumencroft Arc 1
An Arc Designed for Level 5
Table of Contents
Thomter Twin Rescue
Adventure Summary and Prelude
The Thomter Twins are prisoners within a workshop for experimenting. Clarence doesn’t trust the Thomters so they have been separated. It’s the idea of creating a means for the city escaping the Mists that the Thomters agreed to the compromise. Though, the issue is that no breakthrough has been made with their inability to desynchornize so they’ve been requested to design interesting concepts for building, such as a floating windmill.
As these Twins are the domain ally, they party will want to break them free and help them regain their ability to desynchonize.
Adventure Hook
A roden escapee from the experiment, Sork, seeks out whatever aid he can to get the help needed to free his kind. To him, a good first step is rescuing an odd set of twins that got detained by the authorities. Surely they would be sympathetic to the cause? Once freed, the Thomters namely agree to freeing the roden out of spite.
Entry into Lumencroft
How the party gains entry into Lumencroft will determine what happens if they are seen by authorities or commoners.
Sneaking Though
Should the party sneak through any city entrances, they will likely be met with suspicion if seen by commoners or constables as some would be breaking dress code. It is assumed that anyone seen within city limits have gone through orientation.
City Orientation
Should the party enter the gates, the guards will ask if it’s the party’s first visit to the city. If so, they will ensure their equipment is ready for entry into the city.
Should the party say it’s their first, they will go through an orientation to ensure they know the rules of the city so no trouble is had. They are brought to a quick screening room alongside other viewers.
Read for orientation.
Once the doors close shut, the room darkens. A light overhead projects an image of a city overview with the title card, “Welcome to Lumencroft!” It then changes images between beautiful shots of the areas within.
A voice chimes in, “This is Bertram Clarence, proud mayor over Lumencroft. I and City Council welcome you to the chance of a lifetime in the perfect place to be. However, in order to ensure that it’s the place to be, it is imperative that expectations are laid out and you too can know your part.
Expectation 1: A Civil Society is a Happy Society. What allows the city to stay as a site of wonders is how the common citizen treats the other with their manners. Do not be afraid to wave hello or return the gesture. Everyone is always happy to meet with you.
Expectation 2: Problems are for City Council to deal with. I will admit, the pursuit for making the dream city isn’t easy. What to do about the rare circumstances of crime or disruptive citizen has always been a tricky challenge. That is what City Council is for! We are your custodians so we are the ones to resolve any disputes you may have.
Expectation 3: Take part in events! No one wants to be left out of the fun. To just stand idly by is boring and dull anyways! The least we can ask is to coordinate your fashion with any celebrations taking place. That is why to tempt you, we always have something delightful going on, whether it being tastings at a Joyden’s candy shop or fireworks at nightfall. I’m sure we can find something for you!
With these core expectations in mind, I and City Council hope these help as guidelines to enjoy your visit, or better yet, your stay, here in Lumencroft! This has been Mayor Clarence Bertram signing off.”
From there, the party is taken to a fitting gallery where they can either try new clothing and getup or have their current clothing match for the Thrill of the Chill event. Namely, characters will want to have blue and white coloring.
Workshop of Wonder
Within the Ervine District is the Workshop of Wonder. A 4-story tall warehouse that got turned into a museum on the first two floors and workspace on the upper two. The Thomters are trapped on the fourth floor guarded by 6 cogwork archivists.
The museum portion is open to the public from 10AM-8PM. While closed, a custodian cleans up around the shop in the morning and an engineering historian ensures displays are tidy. Engineers within the shop work from 10AM-8PM on the third floor. The fourth floor are where the Thomters are every night and day.
Read when entering inside on the ground floor:
Into the Workshop, you see contraptions and mechanisms that have odd yet interesting shapes. A cylinder with a tail and a double pair of wings on the sides, a massive oval-shaped balloon hovering in the air, a clockwork humanoid figure waving at guests, and more. Most of these attractions sit behind plaques that describe what they are.
Roden Utopia Breakout
Goal: The party is to infiltrate the facility. They are to deactivate Traps A and B, open the exterior doors, and confront Constable Dennis on opening the interior set of doors.
For Map labeling:
Main Facility
When initially entering the halls, read:
Doctor Sordove, Ma’am? I haven’t heard you ask about the reports you wanted to see as of late. Things haven’t been right as rain these last few days and just to be sure, I have the latest results with me. Of course, if you want the older ones, I gave them to the tiefling researcher. I can grab those once you give me the word.
Meeting Evander
When initially coming to his door, Evander is dismissive and denies that Henry is there, believing it to be a test from Dr. Sordove. He claims to be so close to finding a solution to making a roden charm elixir to make it easier to treat the roden more like cattle.
Read when entering Evander's room:
Opening the door, you see a haggard tiefling, definitely one thinner than what Henrietta has seen. He is frantic with his pencil movements as above him are recipe steps for potions and refining processes where the end result is the perfect roden sedative. He then pauses, seeing the outer light filter inside and slowly turns around. His eyes and cheeks are smeared with purple tears as you can see a force natural smile on his face.
Lower Facility
Constable Dennis
Guarding the exterior set of the doors is Constable Dennis.
Backstory. Constable Dennis is a naive and jovial man who joined the constabulary to help support his aging parents. Already a big and lovable man, he was chosen to be experimented on for the “juggernaut” program to better serve the city. Successful, Dr. Sordove eagerly chose him and tempted a promotion for the success of the experiment. He even rounded up the roden, who were eager at first.
He had a happy life, simply following orders, believing that what he did bettered the city. He found his second family with the constables. He knew that the promotion to being a captain would not only make his lower colleagues cheer him on, but also make his family proud.
Read on opening the exterior doorways.
The intercom comes on. The Mayor's voice comes through with immediate agitation, "Dr. Sordove? Dennis? I have reversed whatever was done to our radios and intercoms, so tell me now, what is going on?
A different voice comes through, one that is feminine and bitter, “Constable Dennis, you twit! Everything has fallen apart because of your failure to do one simple task: maintain the experiment! Your muscles will be better served hauling equipment as an unfortunate! I’ll have Sergeant Elysian inform your loved ones on your… sudden absence…”
”Terrible news, indeed, Constable. Regardless, Doctor, we ought to discuss curfew to better catch these culprits. Things have gone awry ever since those Thomters got loose and they have had assistance, which explains the degree of this travesty!”
”I’ll inform Chief Constable Stottard the news while you rally City Council. His prized ‘juggernaut’ was probably convinced to open the doors with that imbecilic head of his! May as well include the rest of the lowly staff for safe measure.”
The intercom finally clicks off.
If Dennis is still active, read:
The massive constable is clearly distraught, quick to rush for the intercom system, “No! No! Sirs! I failed you, don’t include the lads! They followed the rules… but… still got… punished…”
Dennis will fall into a deep despair.
Message from the Machine
While the party is leaving, the Machine gives a warning:
Outsiders... interlopers... unfortunates... I know what follows you. I have kept the darkness at bay for so long and ever since your presence has been here, the shadows have gotten so close! It is looking and searching everywhere, trying to delay putting its destructive claws through the grates of the furnace! City Council is in denial of this fact but I will not lose the light! The city must survive and I will do what I must to ensure the path of progress is unhindered by these nihilistic abominations!
Whatever the party chooses next, they gain a level up.
Comments