Exchange

by hughpierre

Levels 7 - 10

d%	1	2	3	4	5	0
NPCs	rumour	rumours	rumours	rumours	rumours	none
_________	1-40	41-50	51	-	-	52-00
Guardsman	1-55	56-66	67-68	-	-	69-00
_________	1-70	71-82	83-85	-	-	86-00
_________	1-70	71-83	84-87	88	-	89-00
_________	1-70	71-84	85-89	90-91	-	92-00
_________	1-70	71-85	86-91	92-94	-	95-00
Ichtacka	1-80	61-76	77-85	86-91	92-94	95-00
Chantli	1-60	61-78	79-91	92-97	98-00	-
_________	1-50	51-70	71-86	87-94	95-00	-

The chance to know one or more rumours is attributed to specific NPCs, at the GM's discretion, then rolling the percentile die. Characters assigned a slot capable of telling 4 rumours have a chance of correcting an incorrect or false tale.

Themes

Rumour

The following is a list of various stories, rumours and facts concerning Kuit and the surrounding area. Any resident might know one or more. Some of them are absolutely true, some are partially true, and others are utterly false. Those that are partially true will have the false statement(s) italicized.

The party must interact with the person before information can be revealed. Individuals friendly to the party will not lie about a rumour (i.e., distort it even more). Those hostile to the party might distort a rumour or lie to mislead them.
Option 1 d6 Option 2

Someone is trying to organize all professions of river workers. 1 The court is taking control of all boats on the Rattles.

The Speaking Council will buy any alcohol from anyone. No questions asked. 2 A pirate hunter ship returned to port with no crew.

There’s a guardsman who takes bribes to frame targets. 3 A corrupt noble is seeking passage out of the city ahead of a scandal.

The auianimes and pleasure houses are afflicted with nanáua. 4 The Krix court has been infiltrated by gangs.

A new drug is made from mace blood and makes people slow. 5 The local water management are stockpiling drinkable water, expecting a shortage soon.

All the well-to-dos are importing heavy acid locks - said to be impossible for criminals to break into. 6 The vault at the Uandakuari was ransacked, but they’re covering it up.
The option to disclose a rumour is always up to the GM. An NPC might not tell everything he or she knows. Once a rumour is told you may substitute others. The GM may create others as needed. Characters knowing 3 or more rumours have a 30% chance of correcting an incorrect or false tale.

Option 1	d6	Option 2
Someone is trying to organize all professions of river workers.	1	The court is taking control of all boats on the Rattles.
The Speaking Council will buy any alcohol from anyone. No questions asked.	2	A pirate hunter ship returned to port with no crew.
There’s a guardsman who takes bribes to frame targets.	3	A corrupt noble is seeking passage out of the city ahead of a scandal.
The auianimes and pleasure houses are afflicted with nanáua.	4	The Krix court has been infiltrated by gangs.
A new drug is made from mace blood and makes people slow.	5	The local water management are stockpiling drinkable water, expecting a shortage soon.
All the well-to-dos are importing heavy acid locks - said to be impossible for criminals to break into.	6	The vault at the Uandakuari was ransacked, but they’re covering it up.

Structure

Exposition

The PCs are serving as guards to a diplomatic delegation visiting the Krix of Krix. Unknowingly, the majority of the party are acting as cover for a separate team of friendly NPC(s). Two NPC characters were assigned a secret mission by their Great Speaker to steal a sample of metal that the Krix are using in their weapons so the Triple Alignment can copy their own.

Conflict

Ecort
^{Level 7}

The party picks up an NPC guide at the Salt Docks, halfway between Sangsalgu Proper and Krix. She is accompanied by 3 men from the local garrison who act as her guards. Continuing on their journey, Chantli can expose some exposition to better inform the PCs on the nature of their destination. She tells the group at least 1 factoid she believes to be true; before the GM rolls on the rumour table that determines how much she knows.

Chantli's Bodyguards(3)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	13 (+1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	11 (+0)	10 (+0)

Armour Class: 11
HP: 58 ( 9d8+18 )
Speed: 40ft
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +3
Abilities:

Advantage on WIS (Perception) checks

Rising Action

Party
^{Level 8}

They are welcomed to the Uandakuari Palace filled with exotic looking nobles and weird plants. There, the party is introduced to the Krix - but not actually expected to talk to him - and can interact with Ichtack as the court announcer. This is the extended period, where PCs and the rest of the party will have a few days to interact with the locals to discover clues as to where and how they could influence the course of their mission.

Climax

Lockdown
^{Level 9}

After the PCs have filled out one or several of the progress clocks, the gates to the palace or the city would be closed and everyone barred from leaving. It need not be from anything the party did, but can choose to evade the guards or remain to find out the reason.

Krix's Guards

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	14 (+2)	12 (+1)	17 (+3)	15 (+2)	18 (+4)

Armour Class: 16
HP: 55 ( 10d8+10 )
Speed: 30ft
Saving Throws: INT +5, WIS +4, CHA +6
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Magic +5, Deception +8, Insight +4, Persuasion +6
Abilities:

AC includes CHA modifier

Falling Action

Introduction
^{Level 10}

If the party is still in the city, they may encounter a rowdy populous. By which point they may either sneak their way out of the city or walk out with the permission of the Krix.

Nosy Civilian

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
8 (-1)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)	10 (+0)	8 (-1)	8 (-1)

Armour Class: 15
HP: 7 ( 2d6 )
Speed: 30ft
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Stealth +6
Abilities:

Can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of their turns

Relations

Competitors

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	15 (+2)	10 (+0)	24 (+7)	20 (+5)	20 (+5)

Armour Class: 10
HP: 45 ( 10d8 )
Speed: 30ft
Saving Throws: CHA +8, INT +10, WIS +8
Skills: Deception +11, Insight +11, Nature +10, Persuasion +8, Perception +8, Slight of Hand +5, Steath +5
Abilities:

+5 bonus to initiative and cannot be surprised

By spending 1 uninterrupted hour alone, she can brew 10 vials of any poisonous effect with a DC 18 CON saving throw for 6d10+7 damage that can applied however the GM wishes

Chantli

Chantli serves as the team's guide through the Krix's court and the rest of Krix. She is also a genius poisoner and wants to independently fish through the native saltwater plants for ingredients. To get her hands on even rarer specimens, she is willing to collude with criminal elements within the city, even if doing so is detrimental to the group. Though, she is not intentionally malignant about it.

Adversaries

Krix Kexki

Kexki is Krix's ancient looking king. Inspite being the most powerful man in Krix, he is a shriveled wisp of a man; bald, toothless and near voiceless. Yet is best known for his vulgarities which is on constant display via his crone wives, types of concubines and his public breast feeding of his 'milk woman'.

Kexki

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
11 (+0)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Armour Class: 11
HP: 4 ( d8 )
Speed: 10ft
Saving Throws: WIS +4, CHA +5
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Deception +7, Insight +4, Persuasion +5
Abilities:

(3/Rest). Gains 5 temporary hp

(3/Day). Gain a +5 bonus to AC until the start of his next turn and takes no damage from magic.

Ichtacka

The grey-haired prince Ichtacka is a genius gardener, court interpreter and Kexki's heir for 35 years. He appears exasperated by his father in their scenes together; for reasons that can only be assumed. Ichtacka is likely to be encountered again in the city streets as he goes through his normal routine. And through the course of duty, as he ensures Krix's secrets are sufficiently protected.

Ichtacka

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
10 (+0)	15 (+2)	10 (+0)	17 (+3)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)

Armour Class: 12
HP: 62 ( 7d8*2 )
Speed: 30ft
Saving Throws: DEX +4, INT +5
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Deception +5, Insight +4, Investigation +5, Perception +6, Persuasion +5, Sleight of Hand +4, Stealth +4
Abilities:

When at 31hp, all afflicted conditions and effects are negated

(1/Turn). Deals an extra 2d6 damage when:

he hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll
or
when the target is within 5ft of an ally and doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.

As a bonus action, can take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action

Backdrops

Encounters

Giant Bird

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	10 (+0)	15 (+2)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	7 (-2)

Armour Class: 10
HP: 22 ( 3d10+6 )
Speed: 10 ft., fly 60 ft.
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Perception +3
Abilities:

Advantage on WIS (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell

Advantage on an attack roll against a target if at least one ally is within 5 ft

Beak: 2d4+2 piercing damage

Talon: 2d6+2 slashing damage

Twig Shrub

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
6 (-2)	13 (+1)	12 (+1)	4 (-3)	8 (-1)	3 (-4)

Armour Class: 13
HP: 4 ( d6+1 )
Speed: 20ft
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Stealth +3
Abilities:

d4+1 piercing damage

Tangle of Vines

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	8 (-1)	14 (+2)	5 (-3)	10 (+0)	3 (-4)

Armour Class: 12
HP: 26 ( 4d8+4 )
Speed: 10ft
Proficiency Bonus: +2
Skills: Stealth +1
Abilities:

Targets take 2d6+2 bludgeoning damage, and if they are large or smaller are grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained and the blight can't constrict another target.

5 Headed Bulb (potted)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	20 (+5)	2 (-4)	10 (+0)	7 (-2)

Armour Class: 15
HP: 172 ( 15d12+75 )
Speed: 0ft
Proficiency Bonus: +3
Skills: Perception +6
Abilities:

Whenever it takes 25 or more damage in a single turn, one of its bulbs dies. If all its heads die, it dies. At the end of its turn, it grows two heads for each of its heads that died since its last turn, unless it has taken fire damage since its last turn. It regains 10 hp for each head regrown in this way.

Blue Orchid

Species | Jan 20, 2024

Plant Life

The above can either be random encounters to injection action or sources of poison or non-poisonous material that Chantli would aim to claim.

Plot type

Co-Op GM Stealth and Diplomacy Intrigue Adventure

Related Characters

Related Organizations

Related Locations

Progress Clocks

Information

Clocks represent a PC’s investigation into a rumour or uncertain claim. Each rumour has its own Clock that tracks how much information the PCs have gathered and how close they are to confirming or debunking it.

The number of segments depends on the complexity of the rumour:

4-segment clock → A simple rumor (eg. Corruption)
6-segment clock → A deeper mystery (eg. Disappearances)
8-segment clock → A tangled conspiracy

When attempting to uncover the truth, they roll relevant skills:

Success: Fill in 1-2 clock segments depending on effort and method
Partial Success: Progress is made, but misinformation or misleading clues may emerge
Failure: No progress, or worse - false leads might be added to the mix

Misinformation

Complex or contested truths represent misinformation spreading faster than the PCs can uncover the truth. This clock fills up when:

PCs fail a roll while investigating
Opposing forces (e.g., conspirators, corrupt officials) actively spread falsehoods
Time-sensitive elements allow rumours to take hold.

If the misinformation clock fills out before the information clock, the false version of events becomes widely accepted; making it harder (or impossible) to correct the record. From then on, PCs can:

Expose the truth (possibly at great cost)
Leverage the lie to their advantage
Let the falsehood persist and move on

Major Capitals

Politics

Histories

Exchange

Levels 7 - 10

Themes

Rumour

Structure

Exposition

Conflict

EcortLevel 7

Chantli's Bodyguards(3)

Rising Action

PartyLevel 8

Climax

LockdownLevel 9

Krix's Guards

Falling Action

IntroductionLevel 10

Nosy Civilian

Relations

Competitors

Chantli

Adversaries

Krix Kexki

Ichtacka

Backdrops

Encounters

Blue Orchid

Plant Life

Progress Clocks

Information

Misinformation

Comments

Author's Notes

Classified February, Keeping Secrets

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EVENTS

REACHING OUT

A BIG THANK YOU

Ecort
^{Level 7}

Party
^{Level 8}

Lockdown
^{Level 9}

Introduction
^{Level 10}