ZEITGEIST Canal sequence-breaking

[EarthSeraphEdna]

The player's guide mentions that "Strange occult symbols scrawled on the undersides of bridges that cross the canal have provoked suspicions that the Ragman might be retribution from the long dead witches of Cauldron Hill," which can definitely give players the idea to investigate the canal bridges.

Players will also have their suspicions aroused after Hana "Gale" Soliogn gives her speech in book #2. Hana also points out Parity Lake, the Nettles, and Cauldron Hill as part of the plot.

1. What happens if the party discovers the canal gates and opts to replace the offending iron during the middle of book #2? Does it ultimately not matter, because Margaret Saxby will reinstall them anyway, and the Obscurati can simply rely on other entrances?

2. What happens if the party gathers rusted iron amulets from the abandoned warehouse or Macbannin's laboratory in book #2, passes through the canal gates (instead of replacing them), and takes a peek at the Bleak Gate operation?

3. What happens if, after Margaret Saxby's defeat in book #3, the party discovers the canal gates and opts to replace the offending iron, then has other constables seek out and replace the rusted iron portals in Parity Lake, the Nettles, and Cauldron Hill? Does it ultimately not matter, because Lorcan Kell already shipped the goods? Does it lower Obscurati morale in the Bleak Gate as their perishables and rations start to dwindle?

4. What happens if, during the downtime between books #3 and #4, or between books #4 and #5, the party somehow uses rusted iron amulets to pass through the canal gates (instead of replacing them) and takes a peek at the Bleak Gate operation?

 

[RangerWickett]

1. By that point, Borne is complete. All it does is make it slightly harder for Ob folks to cross, but it doesn't stop them.

2. The GM would have a sympathetic NPC go with them. They'd be spotted by shadow trolls and guards, the GM would run a frantic scene where a troll tears apart the sympathetic NPC, and the party has to run like hell to escape as the transition slowly fades them back to the real world.

And if they go back later, the rings would be dismantled.

Alternately, if you think your party would go for it, instead of actually roleplaying the crossover, make it a mystery. You'd have them each make a Con check for endurance, and then everyone makes a Will save.

Anyone who failed the Con check got caught and savagely wounded. If they also fail the Will save, the narrative goes "weber ring, wake up later that night in bed, with bloody bandages in a trash can."

Basically, they go, narrowly survive, and once they make it back to the real world, agents of the Ob erase that 5 minute memory. Then they dismantle the rings.

I dunno. Realistically they would just assassinate the PCs in their sleep, but that isn't, yknow, fun.

 

[gideonpepys]

Anyone who failed the Con check got caught and savagely wounded. If they also fail the Will save, the narrative goes "weber ring, wake up later that night in bed, with bloody bandages in a trash can."

Basically, they go, narrowly survive, and once they make it back to the real world, agents of the Ob erase that 5 minute memory. Then they dismantle the rings.

I dunno. Realistically they would just assassinate the PCs in their sleep, but that isn't, yknow, fun.

That's an oblique dig at Stranger Things, right?

 

[Empirate]

4. What happens if, during the downtime between books #3 and #4, or between books #4 and #5, the party somehow uses rusted iron amulets to pass through the canal gates (instead of replacing them) and takes a peek at the Bleak Gate operation?

My party did this, they actually made two forays into Bleak Gate before things got real (both between books #4 and #5). I used this as an opportunity to showcase the huge preparedness and resources of the Ob – but also the fact that they're not almighty and aren't prepared for every eventuality. During the second foray, the constables actually managed to destroy the hunter-killer team of Dark Ones and Bleak Gate beasties, and penetrated into the facility itself. They were discovered, though, and had to fight their way out. After that, the facility remained on high alert, and Leone Quital installed extra security measures for when the constables broke in for a final time on the night of the formal dinner.