The Missing Guardian
Prominent businessman Barion Waystone's House Guardian has been stolen! Though city authorities are on the lookout, his wife begs the Valorian Knights to search for it. The Hearth Festival--and the anniversary of their engagement--is quickly approaching, and she can't bear facing it without their guardian.
Structure
Exposition
As the players wait in Victory Hall for Hellebore, who is late, a messenger arrives. He spots the party's Valorian Spears and asks if they can take his request. (If they do not accept, Hellebore shows up to do so; if they do, she shows up as they are setting out.)
He briefly explains the situation, and will entreat the party as much as needed to get them on board. His employer, Mistress Waystone, is a good woman--she volunteers at the children's hospital in Old Lakefront, where the messenger's son is being treated.
Hellebore suggests that, rather than combing the city for the guardian, the party should find someone who would have motive to take it. She happens to know that Master Waystone frquents Cormorant's Tea House, and will take the party there to get them started. (She will then stay there for the rest of the day, "in case anyone comes by with information.")
Rising Action
The players should speak to associates and enemies of Barion Waystone and his family, seeking answers and the missing guardian. They have two days before the Hearth Festival.
Climax
If the players uncover the perpetrator, they will need to convince her to reveal the guardian's location. They do not have authority to arrest a Valoran citizen, but they may turn the guilty party in to the city watch. Whether or not they turn her in, though, the key to their mission is recovery of the guardian.
If they are unable to solve the mystery by the Hearth Festival, Mistress Waystone will call them to her home to check on their progress.
Falling Action
If the party successfully returns the guardian, the Waystone family will be deeply grateful, promising not to forget what they owe the young knights. If they tell Mistress Waystone the truth about who took it and why, she will lock her husband out of the house until he makes things up to the guardian. Even so, he will be glad for the chance to make things right, promising to reform.
If they are unable to solve the mystery by the Hearth Festival, or are simply unable to find and return the guardian, Mistress Waystone will call them to her home to check on their progress. She will listen to whatever they have learned, and leave her husband (making him an enemy of the party for the rest of the campaign).
Components
Goals
IG: Find and return the missing House Guardian.
OOG: Introduce the players to Albion and give them a chance to work together on a relatively low-stakes mission.
Stakes
No life or limb involved here, but this is deeply important to the family involved. Additionally, it will set a tone for how certain NPCs interact with the characters.
Moral Quandaries
Players will need to decide whether to turn in the perpetrator to the city watch, and whether to reveal Barion's affair to his wife.
Relations
Neutrals/Bystanders
Cormorants Tea House (East End):
Proprietor Aleyu Cormorant and her wife Minidra know that Barion works out of his home, is generally popular, and when isn't at home or their tea house, he is often at the Carnelian Hotel. (middling willingness to help--they have a high opinion of Hellebore, but aren't inclined to gossip about good customers)
Fellow regulars know that Barion occasionally plays loose with his business dealings, but is clever enough to manage it. They know that he considers merchants Lars and Orissen to be his main competitors, and that nobleman Rakus has been very unhappy with their latest dealings. (willing to speak highly of him and serve up his enemies, less willing to share his failings)
Oracle Trading Company (East End):
Lars Oakrow has a high opinion of Barion; they're competitors, but it's a friendly rivalry. Not much of use to say, but does know that Barion has been having problems with Rakus--who has just transferred all of his business to Oracle Trading Co, contributing to Lars' good mood. Believes that Barion is a good family man, and an honorable businessman. (willing to talk at length but not terribly helpful)
Children's Hospital (Old Lakefront):
Mistress Waystone's friends suspect that Barion has been cheating on her, though they've no idea with whom, and know that he spends all day at Cormorant's and the Carnelian. (willing to gossip so long as the players seem to be on their friend's side)
Waystone Family Home (New Lakefront):
Mistress Waystone is too distraught to talk much about it. She is exhausted, has clearly been crying, and is tending a baby. Barion will be hesitant to let the players search (there was no indication that the thief came inside) but his wife encourages the knights to do whatever they think could help. His office contains letters of complaint from various customers/suppliers/competitors--mostly mild, but quite a livid one from Rakus. Hidden among his business correspondence are also love-letters from "Your Little Darling."
Shipping Market (West End):
Orissen Shore thinks Barion is a pompous scum-sucker, but does feel sorry for him about the loss of the house guardian. He doesn't much care for higher-society dealings at all, but their money is good--not that they seem to know it. Rakus is cheap and petty; no surprise that he's bailing on Barion's prices, hoping Lars will give him a better deal. Once saw Barion wasted at the Carnelian's bar, flirting heavily with a waitress. (willing to dish, but not for long as he has business to get back to)
Carnelian Hotel (Temple Square):
The Barkeep and Waitstaff know that Barion has been dating Darlissa for some time now. They don't have a high opinion of him, but they do of her. Don't want to think she did it, but could believe it--she hasn't been herself lately, they've been fighting. Know that she's been at the Temple of Ceterian a lot. (moderately willing to talk privately, unwilling to talk in front of customers)
Rakus Remari is out to lunch here, and will delight in Barion's misfortune, which he believes is well-deserved. However, he will be quite upset about any accusations that he is to blame. Unlike that crass, greedy merchant, always in here to chat up the waitress, Rakus is an honorable man, and would never disgrace himself with that sort of thing. And why bother, where there are plenty of other, decent people in the city to do business with? He wouldn't go to lunch with Barion, but sees no need for revenge... unless it were to make back some of his money. (talks plenty, but mostly in his own defense)
Other Regulars have seen him fighting with Rakus lately, and they've stopped dining together. They also know that Barion is friendly with the staff, especially the waitresses, but lately had quite the spirited spat with one, not that they heard what it was about. (moderately willing to talk)
Temple of Ceterian (Temple Square):
Priest Otar confirms that Darlissa has been in frequently, often looking upset or angry, always entreating Ceterian quite earnestly for something. Now, she's been here all day, more upset than ever. He is concerned about her, and so long as the players seem honorable, he will share that she lives in the west inland, just off the main road at the sign of the fox. Her house guardian is a beardog pup.
Darlissa Shadygrove is beside herself with what she's done. Depending on how she's approached, she may be contrite or dig her heels in, run out the back, or just give up and start crying. She is pregnant, and realising that Barion is never going to leave his family for her.
Darlissa's Rowhouse (Western Inland):
The Waystone Family's house guardian, a deer in repose, is in the garden shed behind the house, with a candle, a little bowl of oil, and a bundle of Barion's letters to her, tied with a pretty ribbon. If the players read them, it will be fairly clear that he was never as passionate about their relationship as she was, even in letters. He never speaks of the future, only what he wants from the relationship now.
The Carnelian
"The Carnelian Hotel is famous throughout the city for it's beautiful red trees. It is said that the unique colouration is caused by a rare mineral in the soil, and the trees bloom in shades of rose, maroon and burgundy all year round. The hotel plays up this theme and lavishly decorates in interior with the same palette." by Tom Cartos, available on Patreon.
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