VOF PS2-1T6 DEPLOYMENT: 0-003
Okay, Fireteam Crescendo, this is Lieutenant Jarek Maran.
Exceptional performance on your last two missions, and especially impressive to have secured such a valuable piece of intel in the form of that star chart. This star chart points to The Reef, and ends in an area that is not known to any of the Cryptarch records. Your mission objectives are simple. Find that area, and chart it for the Cryptarchs. If you run into the Baron, use your best judgement in how to proceed. Since this of the star chart is a massive unknown, there's a high risk that you'll run into something that's out of your league at the moment, especially as New Lights. A recon mission of this nature is a good experience, but make sure you can put that experience to use in the future.
Eyes up, Guardians. Maran out.
Exceptional performance on your last two missions, and especially impressive to have secured such a valuable piece of intel in the form of that star chart. This star chart points to The Reef, and ends in an area that is not known to any of the Cryptarch records. Your mission objectives are simple. Find that area, and chart it for the Cryptarchs. If you run into the Baron, use your best judgement in how to proceed. Since this of the star chart is a massive unknown, there's a high risk that you'll run into something that's out of your league at the moment, especially as New Lights. A recon mission of this nature is a good experience, but make sure you can put that experience to use in the future.
Eyes up, Guardians. Maran out.
Plot points/Scenes
- (Optional) Complete the Man in the Mountain quest. Speak with Mariella to determine that the area lies directly over an Awoken supply chain that runs through the Tangled Shore. She gives the party exact coordinates to the location.
- Travel to the Tangled Shore, the closest known location to the uncharted area with friendly ports. Thieves' Landing serves as a small hub for the rest of the Tangled Shore area.
- (Optional) Speak with The Spider regarding the Baron's star chart.
- Fight through Cabal in Sorik's Cut and launch to the unknown location. (Optional) The Spider will send friendly Vandals to fight alongside you.
- Arrive at the unknown location, it turns out to be a House Wolves settlement. They find that the Fallen there have been attacked by the Baron, they point the party to a cave system outside the settlement. The Fallen note a sizable raiding party.
- (Optional) Enter the cave system and find the Baron looting. The Baron has a powerful raiding force with him with several enemies that can easily defeat a party member. The party should leave at this time.
Themes
The party will see through this deployment that not every deployment will go smoothly. They need to recognize when to turn and run.
Structure
Exposition
(Optional) Mariella will fill in the party about the uncharted area being a significant junction for a supply line running to the Tangled Shore. It is a settlement of House Wolves Eliknsi with very little defensive capabilities. The Baron is looking for a path of least resistance. Mariella also knows that The Spider personally brokered the trade deal that established the supply line, so he would certainly be interested in knowing that it was being targeted by a Baron. The quickest path to the settlement is to land on the Tangled Shore and travel from Thieves' Landing to Sorik's Cut.
(Optional) The Spider will inform the party of the Baron's identity; Eraksis, Honored by None. Eraksis was a Fallen Marauder with a thirst for power, and he lied and killed his way through the failing House of Devils to the position of Baron just as the house was subsumed to House Dusk. His methods were deemed dishonorable, and he was labeled as a pariah within the newly formed house and given no authority or supply priorities despite his position. He turned to The Spider for help, and The Spider cut him a trade deal. Eraksis' attack on the supply line breaks that deal, and The Spider wants him dead for it. The Spider will make note that he still wears House Devils colors; crimson with a symbol that looks like a goat's skull, and had his headdress slashed three times by shock blades during a failed coup attempt.
(Optional) The Spider will inform the party of the Baron's identity; Eraksis, Honored by None. Eraksis was a Fallen Marauder with a thirst for power, and he lied and killed his way through the failing House of Devils to the position of Baron just as the house was subsumed to House Dusk. His methods were deemed dishonorable, and he was labeled as a pariah within the newly formed house and given no authority or supply priorities despite his position. He turned to The Spider for help, and The Spider cut him a trade deal. Eraksis' attack on the supply line breaks that deal, and The Spider wants him dead for it. The Spider will make note that he still wears House Devils colors; crimson with a symbol that looks like a goat's skull, and had his headdress slashed three times by shock blades during a failed coup attempt.
Conflict
Eraksis will be encountered at the end of this deployment, and seeing the Baron will be the main conflict of the chapter. There will also be a minor squabble with some Cabal in Sorik's Cut.
Rising Action
(Optional) The party travels to Vestian Outpost to find Mariella, using the code phrase they learned from Padraig-3. They are introduced to Mariella and her love for the Eliksni.
The party arrives in the Tangled Shore. They see the small Eliksni settlement at Thieves' Landing and have an opportunity to explore.
(Optional) The party speaks to The Spider in his lair. The Spider informs them of the stakes of their mission and offers assistance.
The party fights through Cabal in Sorik's Cut, outlining the dangerous nature of the Tangled Shore and The Reef as a whole despite the current state of Thieves' Landing.
The party arrives in the Tangled Shore. They see the small Eliksni settlement at Thieves' Landing and have an opportunity to explore.
(Optional) The party speaks to The Spider in his lair. The Spider informs them of the stakes of their mission and offers assistance.
The party fights through Cabal in Sorik's Cut, outlining the dangerous nature of the Tangled Shore and The Reef as a whole despite the current state of Thieves' Landing.
Climax
The party arrives on the House Wolves outpost where the star chart led them to. They see the settlement in ruin, reeling from Eraksis' attack. They can aid the Eliksni citizens and leave, or pursue the Baron into the supply warehouse.
Falling Action
Eraksis has a massive raiding party at his command and is pillaging the storehouse with them. The party must choose to fight or flee, as their objective was not to defeat the Baron. If they choose to stay and fight, a portion of the raiding party can be used for a combat encounter while Eraksis and his assembly of Majors depart. The party cannot defeat Eraksis at this time.
Resolution
The party will have cataloged the unknown area of the star chart and have had their first run-in with Eraksis. They can leave the settlement and return to the Tangled Shore to speak with The Spider to let him know that the supply line was temporarily disrupted but not impacted in any major way.
Components
Goals
The goal of the party is to complete the star chart for the Cryptarch archives and (optionally) protect The Spider's supply line. Succeeding in doing so will increase their reputation with the Vanguard and (optionally) The Spider.
Hooks
(Optional) Interacting with Mariella will hopefully intrigue the party more into the past of Lieutenant Maran, as they will have now encountered both of his former fireteam members.
(Optional) Meeting The Spider will introduce the party to the concept of ally Eliksni in the world, especially The Reef. This could serve as an RP opportunity for Cloak to meet more of his own people that don't want to kill him.
Having a run-in with Eraksis and not being able to defeat him should be a motivator to continue pursuing him. It should also be a taste of actual difficult combat for the party, and they should now know that the footsoldiers they've been fighting so far are a joke compared to the real force they are up against.
(Optional) Meeting The Spider will introduce the party to the concept of ally Eliksni in the world, especially The Reef. This could serve as an RP opportunity for Cloak to meet more of his own people that don't want to kill him.
Having a run-in with Eraksis and not being able to defeat him should be a motivator to continue pursuing him. It should also be a taste of actual difficult combat for the party, and they should now know that the footsoldiers they've been fighting so far are a joke compared to the real force they are up against.
Stakes
If the party does not succeed in charting the outpost, the Vanguard will be dissatisfied with their performance and not reward them upon the completion of the mission. If the party prioritizes fighting Eraksis over completing the mission they were given, the Vanguard will also be dissatisfied.
There are no negatives to not completing optional story beats.
There are no negatives to not completing optional story beats.
Red Herrings
The encounter with Eraksis is a red herring to the actual mission at hand. The party is there to record the terrain and complete a map, not fight.
Relations
Protagonists
Fireteam Crescendo
Allies
- Mariella
- Petra Venj
Neutrals/Bystanders
- Vestian Outpost Corsairs
- Vestian Outpost Eliksni
- Thieves' Landing Eliksni
- House Wolves Nomads
Competitors
- The Spider
- The Spider's vandals
Adversaries
- Eraksis, Honored by None
- Eraksis' crew
- Cabal deserters
Backdrops
Locations
- Vestian Outpost
- Thieves' Landing
- Sorik's Cut
- House of Wolves settlement
Threats
- Eraksis, Honored by None
- Cabal deserters
Encounters
- Investigation
- Combat
- Exploration
VANGUARD BRIEFING [CONFIDENTIAL]
FIRETEAM: PS2-1T6 "CRESCENDO"
SO: LT JAREK MARAN
LOCATION: The Reef
HOURS BANK: <null>
KNOWN INTEL:
TASKS:
SO: LT JAREK MARAN
LOCATION: The Reef
HOURS BANK: <null>
KNOWN INTEL:
- Star Chart received from pike raider facility notes heavy activity in The Reef
- A certain area of The Reef is marked that does not appear on Cryptarch charts.
- The Baron has not returned to Earth, and is likely there.
Plot type
Chapter: Baron Hunt
Parent Plot
Subplots
Related Characters
Related Organizations
Related Locations
- Investigate the unknown area of The Reef
- Complete Cryptarch star chart of the area
SUBTYPE: RECON
DESIGNATION: MED/HIGH
REVIEW: OCOM
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