4: Compliance Conundrum

Part 1: Identifying the Anomalies

  The players are tasked with cross-checking Department 666-B’s records against the ICA’s master files to identify discrepancies.   Challenges: Missing and Altered Documents: A suspicious number of contracts and records are incomplete or edited. Some are tied to earlier cases the players handled, such as the forged contract from "Filing Fiasco" or disputes from "Arbitration Abyss." Uncooperative Staff: Clerks in 666-B are dismissive or hostile, fearing the audit will expose their mistakes or corruption. Callback: If the players streamlined the filing system in "Filing Fiasco", they can quickly cross-reference documents to identify anomalies, bypassing extra investigative steps.   Revelation: The players uncover evidence of widespread document tampering, including contracts directly implicating Margravine Zyxariel (if she wasn’t exposed earlier). The trail leads to a hidden ledger stored in the department’s Compliance Vault.  

Part 2: The Vault Break-In

  The Compliance Vault is magically sealed and heavily guarded, accessible only to senior staff. The players must infiltrate it to access the hidden ledger and uncover the full scope of corruption.   Challenges: Security Measures: The vault is protected by traps (glyphs of warding, soul-snatching sigils) and a suspicious Hellfire Golem that demands to see clearance papers. Political Intrigue: If Zyxariel wasn’t exposed, she may personally intervene to sabotage the players, either by manipulating the audit team or sending minions to impede their progress. If she was exposed, her absence has created a power vacuum, and the players must deal with a zealous interim manager trying to assert dominance. Callback: Success in earlier adventures might grant the players insider knowledge of vault procedures or allies within the ICA who can help bypass obstacles.   Revelation: The ledger reveals a systemic cover-up of mishandled contracts, unlawful deals, and misallocated resources. Worse, it implicates senior ICA officials far beyond Department 666-B, suggesting a much larger conspiracy.  

Part 3: The Audit Showdown

  The players must present their findings to the ICA’s Supreme Compliance Committee, chaired by a no-nonsense Chain Devil named Supreme Auditor Cruxvane , known for doling out severe punishments. However, the committee’s deliberation takes an unexpected turn.   Challenges: Legal Wrangling: A devilish defense attorney from 666-B argues that the tampering was authorized as “operational efficiency.” Players must counter with logic and evidence to prove deliberate corruption. Power Plays: Depending on prior events, Margravine Zyxariel may attempt to shift blame to the players or others, arguing her actions were necessary to “preserve order.” If she was already exposed, her rivals might use this opportunity to further smear her—or the players. Callback: Evidence from "Filing Fiasco", "Arbitration Abyss", or "The Missing Memorandum" can support the players' case, tying past events to a systemic failure in the ICA.   Climactic Decision: The players must decide how much of the truth to reveal: Expose Everything: Blow the whistle on the entire conspiracy, risking retaliation from implicated senior devils but earning respect as reformers. Selective Justice: Pin the blame on 666-B’s leadership (or Zyxariel, if she’s still active), ensuring accountability while preserving the ICA’s broader structure. Cover It Up: Bury the evidence and protect the status quo, securing rewards from corrupt higher-ups at the cost of their integrity.   Aftermath: The outcome sets the stage for future conflicts in the ICA, shaping the players' reputations and their role in the infernal bureaucracy.