The Scourge of the Past

Rumors churn within the Tower Annex surrounding a mythical weapon foundry that dates back to the Golden Age, lost to the world during the events of the Collapse. However, a mysterious Exo named Ada-1 insists these rumors are more than they appear. While she lacks the means to pursue them herself, she is willing to put aside her disdain for Lightbearers if it means getting answers regarding the gaps in her memory surrounding this organization.


Bentley Fender was intrigued by the prospect of ancient civilization, especially considering that the Cryptarch archives lacked any information regarding the name offered by Ada: The Black Armory. The newly risen Warlock has convinced his traveling companions to embark on a mission to investigate Ada's claims of powerful weapon forges in the European Dead Zone. Plagued by visions that disrupt his sleep, Bentley hopes that the coincidence of this mystery aligning with the imagery of his nightmares will help him to find peace.


Freed from the strongarm pressure of his brother, The Spider, a Fallen Captain named Siviks has stumbled into a great fortune. Having completed his escape to Nessus, Siviks unearths one of the very forges that Ada-1 so vehemently claims as hers. After many months of tinkering, Siviks is finally able to splice this ancient organization's powerful technology into his army of followers and now poses a threat to the Last City the precision of which have not been seen before. While his master plan has been concocting for the better part of a year at this point, the edge he needed has finally been sharpened. Now all that remains is to track down the final components needed to unleash hell upon humankind.

Plot points/Scenes

1. Volundr Forge
2. Gofannon Forge
3. Izanami Forge
4. Project Niobe
5. Botza Invasion
6. Kell's Scourge Superweapon

Structure

Exposition

Black Armory

History

The Black Armory was founded at the end of the Golden Age by three families: French House of Meyrin, Norse Rasmussen Clan, and Japanese Satou Tribe; each bringing elements of their native heritage to the Armory's designs. The clans' matriarchs, Henriette Meyrin, Helga Rasmussen and Yuki Satou, believed that the Earth is about to be invaded by some extraterrestrial enemy and agreed to manufacture and stockpile advanced firearms to ensure survival of their families. They built several Forges and were selling some weapons to compensate for their expenses; Helga Rasmussen, previously of Clovis Bray, ran the business side of things.


The Armory's precautions failed when the actual Collapse started; their superior firearms provided little protection against the Darkness onslaught. After one of attacks by some monstrous minion of the Darkness, the group had to abandon their hideout and leave their Forges behind. Henriette's daughter Adelaide was severely injured in the attack, and Henriette reluctantly agreed to Yuki Satou's proposal to upload Adelaide's conscience into an experimental exo body, thus creating Ada-1.


Ada-1 served as a mobile forge, being able to create and upgrade Black Armory weapons with her bare hands. Unfortunately, unique weapons produced by Ada-1 turned out to be the group's bane in the post-Collapse world, as they attracted multiple bandits and robbers, including some Risen proto-Warlords. Eventually, every other member of the group perished with only Ada-1 remaining. She ended up hiding in the Last City, remaining secretive and distrustful of any Lightbearers, even the Guardians.

Members

Helga Rasmussen

Co-founder of the Black Armory. Formerly employed by Braytech and on first-name terms with Clovis Bray, Helga managed the Black Armory's finances. The originator of the concept for Project Niobe.

Yuki Satou

Co-founder of the Black Armory. Research and Development lead, responsible for creating and testing weapon blueprints.

Henriette Meyrin

Black Armory founder. Head of security and logistics.

Adelaide Meyrin (Ada-1)

Daughter of Henriette Meyrin & current leader of Clan Meyrin. Gravely injured during the Collapse, was saved by being stored inside an experimental Exo frame from Project Niobe.

Projects

Volundr Forge

The Rasmussen Clan forge. Main site of Jötunn development. Located in the European Dead Zone, its location has been overtaken by the Red Legion's Firebase Hades compound. Can produce of the four keys needed to unlock the Mysterious Box.

Gofannon Forge

The Meyrin Clan forge. Main site of Le Monarque development. Sent away on the Exodus Black colony ship which subsequently crashed on Nessus. Currently under the control of Kell's Scourge. Can produce one of the four keys needed to unlock the Mysterious Box.

Izanami Forge

The Izanami Clan forge. Main research and development site. Sent away on the Exodus Black colony ship which subsequently crashed on Nessus. Currently under the control of the Vex collective. Can produce one of the four keys needed to unlock the Mysterious Box.

Bergusia Forge

The dedicated Project Niobe forge. Located in the European Dead Zone, its location is yet to be recovered due to the extreme security of Niobe Labs. Capable of generating Obsidian Accelerators, which allow the Project Niobe Exo the ability to act as the final key for the Mysterious Box.

Project Niobe

A top-secret development project conceived by Helga Rasmussen. Its goal was to create a functional, mobile forge within the body of an Exo. A laboratory was constructed next to the site of Bergusia Forge in eastern France to facilitate its development and act as a security system to prevent the Bergusia Forge from being accessed until the project was complete. Niobe Labs contains an intense security system that relies on weapon mastery to properly unlock.

Vault Ebisu

One of Izanami Clan's many hidden warehouses, found underneath the Botza District of the Last City. A facility used for holding various wares not created by the Black Armory forges, but used by the organization for research and development. Currently compromised by Kell's Scourge and being used to develop the Insurrection Prime and Anarchy.

Weapons

Jötunn

Rasmussen Clan's flagship weapon project. Mainly manufactured in the Volundr Forge. The Cabal guarding the Forge make use of one of these weapons, with plans to manufacture enough for their entire army.

Le Monarque

Meyrin Clan's flagship weapon project. Mainly manufactured in the Gofannon Forge. The Kell's Scourge members have managed to create several of these, and will use them to defend the forge and Vault Ebisu.

Izanagi's Burden

The Black Armory's flagship weapon project & the Izanami Clan's magnum opus. Developed in the Izanami Forge and stored in the Mysterious Box until the completion of Project Niobe. A prototype can be found in Ada-1's room in the Tower, but it has since fallen apart and is unusable. Only the Project Niobe Exo has the capability to act on the blueprints, but can only produce another depowered prototype without the augmentation of the Obsidian Accelerator.

Kell's Scourge

History

During the development of the House of Spider, Spider and his blood brother Siviks fell out over the former's affable relationship with humanity. Siviks was imprisoned in the Prison of Elders before escaping during the Scorn Crisis prison break. Gathering other Fallen from within the Prison, Siviks formed his own crime syndicate to rival his brother's and discard the structure of Fallen politics in favor of pure meritocracy. His crew would stumble onto the Gofannon Forge on Nessus, and splice their weaponry with Black Armory technology to rapidly develop their strength.


Expanding further into the solar system, the Scourge began to smuggle their spliced gear to the House of Dusk on Earth. Some of this contraband made its way into the hands of Guardians prior to the Red War, which garnered the attention of Ada-1 and reluctantly dragged her out from her hiding to investigate. When the Red War began, and portions of the Last City falling to ruin, Siviks seized an opportunity in the Guardians' weakness to move in on Earth and uncover more Black Armory resources as described in records from the Gofannon Forge. With the help of the House of Devils, the Scourge syndicate infiltrated the Last City's Botza district and set up camp within the Vault Ebisu warehouse. With the materials inside, Siviks continued to upgrade his offenses and begin the development of a superweapon to push his dominance over his brother over the top.


After the Red War, Siviks found himself trapped on Earth between the newly restored Guardians and the remnants of the Red Legion. Growing increasingly more desperate with each passing day, Siviks spread his forces out across Nessus and the EDZ in search of the two other clans' forges with the information he gained from the Vault Ebisu database in an effort to diversify his arsenal. With funds gained from trading with the shadowy House of Salvation, Siviks accelerates the development of his superweapon until he realizes that he lacks the power to operate it. In the Izanami Clan records, he uncovers data on something called Project Niobe and devotes himself to uncovering it.


After finding out the location of Niobe Labs, Siviks realizes he needs control of all three clans' forges in order to bypass the overwhelming security of the facility. Kicking his expeditions into overdrive, Siviks himself begins to oversee raids on the forge sites. Each site carries its own challenges that stall his progress further, leading the syndicate ruler to become more frustrated and desperate to see his plan through as soon as possible.

Members

Siviks, Lost to None

Leader of the Kell's Scourge syndicate. Goes by the title "Boss" rather than Kell in an effort to forsake Fallen custom in spite of his brother. Charismatic, dangerously ambitious, cunning, and desiring of power over all Fallen and the destruction of the other factions in the Solar System, especially the House of Spider. Intensely self-preservative and narcissistic, appearing almost cowardly in his lack of concern for his crew. Recognizes the power and potential of weaponry from the Black Armory as key to the success of his master plan.

Kzelkis

Ranking officer of the Kell's Scourge syndicate. Marauder-class Fallen pirate. Personally accompanies Siviks in his efforts to access forge sites.

Piraksis

Ranking officer of the Kell's Scourge syndicate. Marauder-class Fallen pirate. Personally accompanies Siviks in his efforts to access forge sites.

Telksis the Pillager

Second-in-command of the Kell's Scourge syndicate behind Siviks. Captain-class Fallen pirate. Oversees smuggling operations from the Gofannon Forge to the Vault Ebisu site in the EDZ.

Tziksis

Ranking officer of the Kell's Scourge syndicate. Captain-class Fallen pirate. House of Dusk and House of Salvation plug. Main logistical coordinator for the forge recovery operation.

Projects

Forge Theft

After first splicing his weapons with Black Armory technology in the Gofannon Forge, Siviks made it his mission to master the technology of the human weapons manufacturers to achieve his dream of crushing his brother and wiping out all life in the Solar System to begin anew. Already controlling the Gofannon Forge, Siviks looks to bring the other two clans' forge sites under his control as well. He is currently blocked from doing this by the Cabal presence at Volundr and the Vex having relocated the Izanami Forge for observation.

Botza District Invasion

During the turmoil of the Red War, Siviks was able to establish a base of operations within the borders of the Last City. Inside Vault Ebisu, a Black Armory research warehouse underneath the ruins of the Botza District, Siviks lays the groundwork for his master plan. He uses the warehouse to supply further splicing operations at Gofannon Forge, as well as relay supplies to both House of Dusk and House of Salvation. He also uses the Vault Ebisu site to build his superweapon, Insurrection Prime.

Insurrection Prime

A superweapon constructed by Kell's Scourge using the syndicate's Prime Servitor. The servitor is affixed to a massive robotic chassis, lined to the teeth with powerful weapons, mobility gear, and nearly-impenetrable defenses. Siviks plans to assault the Last City with this death machine as soon as he is able to power it independent of the Vault Ebisu fission reactor, which he requires an Obsidian Accelerator to do. For this reason, he is also seeking to break into the site of Project Niobe, which is detailed as being capable of producing Obsidian Accelerators. Siviks hopes to produce dozens of copies of Insurrection Prime in order to expedite his brother's destruction.

Weapons

Anarchy

An infantry superweapon that Siviks developed in Vault Ebisu to eventually be mass-produced and wielded by his crew during their conquest of the solar system. Siviks himself and his Marauder bodyguards wield them, as do Berserker-class Fallen in the Botza District. If the party retrieves blueprints for them from Vault Ebisu, Ada-1 can construct the weapon for them after she receives the Obsidian Accelerator.

Conflict

Siviks' encroachment on the forges should be the initial factor driving the party to take action, though when they discover why exactly Siviks is seeking the forges the party should enter full high alert. The main conflict here is with Siviks, racing to find the location of Niobe Labs against the Fallen's efforts to break through the site's security and recover the Obsidian Accelerator for Ada-1. If the party dawdles or fails to find a forge, Siviks can lock himself inside the Bergusia Forge and begin producing Obsidian Accelerators, making defeating him and deactivating his superweapon nearly impossible.

Rising Action

Fireteam Crescendo races to find and recover the forges before Siviks is able to crack the code of Niobe Labs. They utilize their combat skill, puzzle-solving abilities, and connections to various NPCs to decode the mystery of the Black Armory and its lost forges.

Climax

The party meets Siviks at Niobe Labs as he is enacting his master plan to get the Obsidian Accelerator. He is defeated at Niobe Labs, but his plan to launch a superweapon from within The Last City is finally revealed.

Falling Action

Fireteam Crescendo travels to the Botza District and puts a stop to the Kell's Scourge.

Resolution

Ada-1 is reunited with her family's legacy and gains the power of the Obsidian Accelerator.

Components

Goals

• Help Ada-1 recover the missing Black Armory assets.
• Thwart Siviks' plot to destroy the City.
• Help Bentley add more data to the Cryptarchy Archives.

Hooks

• Siviks' presence in The Gulch, attempting to access the Volundr Forge site.
• The potency of weapons used by Cabal and Fallen throughout.
• Notes and details they gathered from the Forges from the various clan members.

Stakes

• Siviks powers up Insurrection Prime and begins to attack the Last City.
• Ada-1 never reaches her full potential, many weapons are never gained.
• Bentley does not uncover more information about his past & stagnates in his position as a Cryptarch.

Moral Quandaries

• Is it a good idea to help Ada-1, who distrusts Guardians, find powerful weapons?
• Are the Kell's Scourge worth destroying entirely? Or could some of them still be saved?

Cruel Tricks

Siviks does continue working in the background while the party is adventuring. Total, from the time they first encounter Siviks to activation of Insurrection Prime, the events of this arc transpire over a period of 12 days. The appearance of Lightbearers will kick Siviks' actions into overdrive, speeding up his desire to bust through Niobe Labs at all costs.

Red Herrings

The Spider, despite being Siviks' brother, has very little care or desire to intervene in the affairs of Kell's Scourge. He does not need the Black Armory, he asserts, as he has something far more potent to enhance his munitions. Going to him for help will dead end.

Relations

Protagonists

• Arifaris Radelt
• Bentley Fender
• Ernesto Fettuccini
• Judge-17
• Kasgisk "Cloak", Baron of Light
• Zelle Phim

Allies

• Ada-1
• Devrim Kay
• Failsafe

Neutrals/Bystanders

• The Spider

Competitors

• The Red Legion
• Ghalak the Colossus
• The Vex
• Sublimating Mind

Adversaries

• Siviks, Lost to None
• The Kell's Scourge

Backdrops

Locations

Earth

European Dead Zone

Trostland

• Trostland Outskirts

Winding Cove

Firebase Hades

The Gulch

The Tunnels

• Smidur's Cavern
• Volundr Forge

Sojourner's Camp

Niobe Labs

• Bergusia Forge

The Last City

Botza District

• Botza Downtown
• Botza Underground
• Vault Ebisu

The Tower

Nessus

Arcadian Valley

Exodus Black

• Chamber of Sky

Glade of Echoes

• The Carrion Pit

Artifact's Edge

Lost Fuselage

• Gofannon Forge

Hallows

The Tor

• Izanami Forge

Threats

• The Red Legion
• The Kell's Scourge
• The Vex
• Niobe Labs security

Encounters

• Combat / Engagement
• Negotiation
• Discussion / Interaction
• Meeting / Introduction with cast (NPC)
• Travel / Exploration
• Investigation
• Pursuit
• Planning
• Daring Enterprise
• Riddle Solving / Enigma
• Disaster Mishap
• Survival

Past Events

The Black Armory held many secrets; codes and puzzles designed by Henrietta Meyrin to protect Project Niobe. These still need to be outlined at a later date. Ideally, each forge will provide a piece of the puzzle for bypassing the Niobe Labs security system. There are 4 total levels of security, one related to the history/lore of each clan and a fourth that speaks of how they are stronger when united. While investigating each forge, the players should be given the following information related to events of the past:

1. Written correspondence between members of the Kell's Scourge detailing the location of another forge, as appropriate for the current time of the arc.
2. Written correspondence between members of the Kell's Scourge discussing the Insurrection Prime project, as appropriate for the current time of the arc.
3. Data logs from the appropriate Clan matriarch that explain how to solve their layer of the puzzle in Niobe Labs.
4. Flavor text about the Black Armory, possibly from the Black Armory Letters?

Plot type

Story Arc

Subplots

• 1. Blacksmith's Legacy
• 2. Unwelcome Competition

Related Organizations

• Black Armory
• Kell's Scourge
• Vanguard Operational Fireteam PS2-1T6

Related Locations

• Arcadian Valley
• Artifact's Edge
• Bergusia Forge
• Botza
• Botza Plaza
• Botza Underground
• Chamber of Sky
• Earth
• European Dead Zone
• Exodus Black
• Firebase Hades
• Glade of Echoes
• Gofannon Forge
• Hollows
• Izanami Forge
• Lost Fuselage
• Nessus
• Niobe Labs
• Smidur's Cavern
• Sojourner's Camp
• The Carrion Pit
• The Gulch
• The Last City
• The Tor
• The Tunnels
• Trostland
• Trostland Outskirts
• Vault Ebisu
• Volundr Forge
• Winding Cove