Echoes of the Biohazard
Introduction
In the shadows of a crumbling past lies the forsaken New York Biohazard Research Institute, a monument to humanity’s hubris and innovation. Long ago, this facility was at the forefront of groundbreaking research, pushing the boundaries of biology and technology. But now, it stands as a desolate relic, shrouded in overgrowth and mystery, its legacy marred by whispers of a catastrophic experiment and the failure to find the cure for the virus that led to its abandonment. Nearby settlements live in fear, plagued by strange disappearances and eerie phenomena emanating from the ruins. Amidst this backdrop of uncertainty, the players are called to action by Professor Lydia Tarrow, a brilliant yet eccentric scholar who believes the institute harbors an ancient artifact of immeasurable value—the Eidolon Core. This artifact, she claims, holds the potential to turn the tide against the rising threats that endanger the region. With the promise of reward and the weight of responsibility, the adventurers must brave the decayed halls of the institute, uncover its secrets, and reclaim the power within before it is too late.
GM Notes
- Designed for: 4 level 1 characters.
- System: Ultra Modern 5 Redux (Adaptable to Dungeons and Dragons 5e).
- Adventure Type: Investigation and roleplaying-based, rather than focusing on combat and resource management. The focus lies in uncovering the truth behind the mysterious disappearances and surviving environmental hazards.
- Faction Integration: This adventure is intended to be given by Worshipers of the Choir but can be modified for the Nightbreakers faction if needed. The party members need not be affiliated with the faction to accept the quest.
Adventure Progression
- Introduction & Briefing: The players are introduced to Professor Lydia Tarrow, who explains the disappearances and the significance of the Eidolon Core.
- Journey to the Institute: The players will make their way to the New York Biohazard Research Institute, passing through the ruins and facing environmental dangers.
- Exploring the Institute: The players navigate the dangerous, decaying halls of the institute. They’ll encounter remnants of failed experiments, collected lore and encounter high-tech security systems.
- Retrieving the Eidolon Core: Once they locate the artifact, the players must decide what to do with it.
- Endgame Decision: The players choose whether to keep the Eidolon Core for themselves or hand it over to Lydia. This decision will determine the final outcome of the adventure.
Components
Goals
The goal of this adventure is to infiltrate the abandoned New York Biohazard Research Institute and uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances plaguing nearby Dark Syde out posts.
Players must navigate the dangers of The New York Biohazard Research Institute to locate the Eidolon Core, an ancient artifact rumored to hold great power and believed to be causing the disappearances in the region. Along the way, they will face environmental hazards, mutated creatures, and the remnants of high-security systems, all while piecing together the history of the institute.
Successfully retrieving the Eidolon Core will not only reward the players with valuable resources and knowledge but also provide them with a powerful tool that they will then need to decide what to do with.
Hooks
In the shadow of the crumbling New York Biohazard Research Institute, a growing number of mysterious disappearances have begun to plague a nearby research out post. The rumors speak of strange lights and eerie noises emanating from the abandoned facility. A local scholar, who has been researching ancient records, believes there might be something crucial hidden within the institute that could explain the strange events in the region.
The fox-like scholar is draped in flowing black robes trimmed with intricate lace. Her piercing orange eyes gleam with intensity as she looks at you, the faint magical glimmer in her fur making her presence seem both commanding and ethereal. Resting one delicate hand on a lantern, she beckons you forward with the other.
Nearby, a research outpost has begun reporting disappearances—good people gone without a trace. Nightbreakers have investigated the area, but didn't find much. Instead, they came back with stories of strange lights and unnatural sounds from the ruins of the old Biohazard Institute. I've spent hours poring over ancient records, searching for something hidden—something that could explain these strange events. My research points to an artifact buried deep within that institute: the Eidolon Core. It may hold knowledge lost to time, knowledge that could be key to understanding and perhaps even stopping whatever force is at work.
This isn't a task for the faint of heart. The institute is dangerous, filled with hazards, possibly traps, and… other unknowns. But if you succeed, the rewards will be more than just gold or trinkets. You could save lives—perhaps even uncover knowledge and technology from the Time Before.
If the players ask for more information about The New York Biohazard Research Institute, Lydia can tell them very little of the place. She knows that it was a place that researched medicine. She also knows that the Eidolon Core was part of this research. She believes that it is a powerful piece of technology that is magical in nature.
Stakes
- Failure: If the Eidolon Core is not retrieved, the strange force emanating from the institute could continue to spread, threatening nearby outposts and possibly leading to more disappearances. The forces at work might escalate, resulting in greater chaos.
- Success: Recovering the Eidolon Core could provide the key to halting the spread of the force, saving countless lives and perhaps unlocking powerful, lost knowledge and technology. The adventurers would be hailed as heroes, but their choices regarding the artifact’s use will have lasting consequences.
Moral Quandaries
Once the party finds the Eidolon Core, they will need to decide what they are going to do with it. Do they keep it and its power for themselves? Or do they turn it over to Lydia Tarrow so that someone in The Dark Syde can study the artifact?
Backdrops
Locations
Travel
It will take the party a day to travel from Dark Syde to Rouse Point. Use the travel rules for this journey. Players are likely to want to scavenge somewhere along the route or within Rouse Point. Use the scavenging rules for this. Use CR1 Scavenging Locations for the buildings they decide to scavenge.
Rouses Point
Other then this quest point, there is nothing here for the players to see. They can scavenge the area if they choose, but there is nothing else related to the quest in this area.
The New York Biohazard Research Institute
Relevant Maps
Immediate Area
The Region
Area of the Out Post
Traveling Map
History Skill Check
- DC15: The New York Biohazard Research Institute was a medical research center was established during The Fall in New York State with the critical mission of studying the new virus that was devastating the world. This center played a crucial role in attempting to understand and combat the outbreak.
- DC 20: In ancient Greek literature, an eidolon is a spirit-image of a living or dead person; a shade or phantom look-alike of the human form.
Allies
The Nightbreakers have maps of the region and have individuals that have investigated the area already. If a character has a contact within the Nightbreakers, they can gain access to these maps.
Comments
Author's Notes
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