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Message: <blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 6540949" data-attributes="member: 22424">The best thing about it being gems that are stolen is that it's hugely flexible: they could need them for a ritual, they could simply be a bribe, or they could even just be bait - perhaps what they really wanted was the store owner and this was a way to get to him. I'd be inclined to run with the third idea, since that's probably the one your players would least expect...At this point, I'd suggest having the PCs be approached by an old friend of their employer. He is becoming increasingly concerned about his friend - the gem merchant came to him yesterday for information, went on to see another contact of theirs, and was supposed to meet him for dinner... only his never showed.Make a point of a strange tattoo/brand/birthmark that the friend has, and perhaps remark that their employer actually had a similar marking.This should point the PCs on to go visit this same contact, who they find easily enough. Only to discover him digging through the wreckage of his own store, which has been turned over recently as well. The contact is apologetic, but he can't help the PCs - he didn't see his friend, and he's recently been robbed and doesn't have time to answer any questions.And, again, mention that same tattoo/brand/birthmark. Oh, and if the players think to ask: yes, this guy is hiding something. (Or perhaps you should just tell them that. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> )So, what's going on?Well, in their mis-spent youth the three friends fell in with a bad crowd, and actually got themselves initiated in some mystery cult. As soon as they learned this cult was associated with the Cult of Shadows, they beat a hasty retreat, and thought they were in the clear.But now the CoS are performing a ritual (to summon demonic assistance, or something) that requires them to sacrifice the life of a member. Not wanting to sacrifice one of their own, they tracked down the third friend... who proceeded to sell out his buddy (the PCs' employer) to the cult to save his own skin. The CoS captured the employer, and the contact tossed his own store to hide the evidence.I'm not entirely sure how best to connect up the rest of the dots for the PCs (you'll want lots of clues to take them along the path), but of course you'll want a nice climax where the PCs interrupt a ritual being conducted under the light of a full moon and where they get to be Big Damn Heroes.Or something like that. I hope it helps, anyway. With luck, even if not, it might trigger a few ideas. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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