Act 1: Seeking the Groom
The adventure begins with the party in Eshkital meeting with the propsective groom where they learn that while he is dutiful to his fathers urging the lad is a bit clueless, has very little charisma and initially isnt enthusiastic about meeting the princess. The PCs have to convince him and set about teaching him a bit about how to "talk to girls" (Its an RP session!)
Complications: Queen Kalumum has spies in Eshkital who will want to keep tabs on the PCs and disrupt their interactions with the groom and his father.
The Spies might even attack the PCs when they eventually leave Eshkital!
Scene 2: Journey to the Frontier
The party and the groom travel through dangerous wilderness toward the small town where the queen and princess are blessing the temple. Along the way, there are various encounters with strange weather, wild beast and weird effects which hint of the queen’s meddling.
The Queens spies and soldiers are also on patrol, and will not look kindly on the PCs party approaching the new temple and the Princess without an official invitation*
Act 2: Introducing the Groom to the Princess (Scene 3)
The Queen and Princess are busy with temple rituals and a grand festival is being arranged*. The party must find a way to get pass security, navigate the politics (ie
they might secure official invitations*) and act as match maker between the Princess and the Groom.
- The Princess is very astute and ambitious and will need to be convinced that a romance is worthwhile
- As such she is initially indifferent about the proposal and does not trust the party's intentions.
- However the Princess is wary of her mother’s tyranny and may see the proposal as a means of securing her own independence (and influence in her own temple)
- Skill Challenge: the party must earn the Trust of the Princess and trigger some romantic association between the Princess and the Groom^
Act 3: The Barge & the Testament (Scene 4)
While the queen is busy with the Temple ritual and organising a celebratory festivital her servants prepare to return to No-Ostalin, having secretly loaded the second Testament. The party learns that the massive barge has arrived in a secret dock nearby and they need to move in to hijack it Now! - The Day of the Temple opening is the perfect opportunity!
- 5 Room Dungeon:
- The dock is guarded and the barge is a floating fortress that the party must infiltrate to get the Testament.
- Room 1 – Guarded Dock: Approach the barge while its still in dock and guarded by soldiers.
- Room 2 – Deck: Get on board and explore the deck, avoiding traps and sailors to locate the hatch
- Room 3 – Captain’s Quarters: Knock out the Sub boss.
- Room 4 – The Cargo Hold: Bypass the security, Secure the Testament and work out how to move it (or hijack the barge)
- Room 5 – Escape Route: The queen's forces arrive as the party tries to flee the river. A chase ensues.
- The party either escapes with the Testament or faces a climactic battle as the queen’s forces descend.
Act 4: The Official Betrothal (Scene 5)
While the Testament has been stolen, The Princess and the Groom are at the Temple Opening Festival where they will announce their official Betrothal to lawfully bind Eshkital and No-Ostalin. (They might even be bound by the power of a Law tablet) The groom and princess are prepared, but the queen stands and opposes the union, threatening to use force if necessary!
Complications: Has the Princess formed a suffient bond with the groom to make the Betrothal binding or will she return to her Mothers side?
Scene 6: Final Betrothal!
The PCs need to protect the Groom and ensure he and the Princess are lawfully Betrothed - even if things breakdown and the queen orders her troops to attack and uses her powers.
Intended Outcome Trope: The Princess and the Groom confirm their Betrothal which unlocks the Princesses own power over the second Testament which she uses to oppose her mother, turning the tide of the battle.
The party negotiates a peace between No-Ostalin and Eshkital. The second Testamentis given to the princess for her new temple.