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Message: <blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 9780587" data-attributes="member: 6685730">A Convenient ProphecyYour ingredients are:McGuffin of Certain DoomSeaside ShowdownOrnate OrnithopterSack of Coffee BeansMediocre PoetEye of the Bee HolderWind TunnelSynopsisThe heroes encounter a middle-aged engineer whose sole occupation is preventing a trapped demon from destroying the countryside.  They can earn some favor and coin by completing errands for the engineer (who is actually a competent sorceror), and/or they can investigate his story and find out that he's also a charlatan.  The engineer's posh lifestyle is forfeit if the PCs leave with what they discover, so their departure might come to a climactic end.BackgroundPichoven is a medieval castle situated on a plateau near large pastures and a rocky ridge, the Palisade Peaks, that overlooks the tranquil Azulia sea.  Its lord, Lady Bea, recently learned of a lost prophecy that explains many strange events that plagued her realm this year.  One of her freemen, Denris of Enwall, is the accomplished engineer who presented the prophecy to her.  He had been constructing a flying machine for one of the lady's bannermen, when he learned of the prophecy: a wasp-like demon is set to poison the realm and claim the realm for itself.  The demon lives in a cave near the sea, cursed to end the lives of those who obstruct the cave.  So Denris has modified his "ornithopter" to blow wind into the cave, trapping the demon without "obstructing" the cave.  Lady Bea pays Denris in coin and property to maintain the machine, and thus prevent further malediction on the realm.Hooks-PCs have a friend (or meet one named Guffy) who has unsuccessfully been writing verse.  He's enchanted by the idea of finding a real-life prophecy to inspire his writing (and Denris is now an expert on the new prophecy).-Word reaches the PCs that the demon's captor, Denris, has errands that demand completion and payment.-Holy or belligerent PCs hear about a demon that needs banishment (slaying) in the Palisade Peaks.Characters-Lady Bea PeakfallA robust, aging lady with a lot on her plate, which usually includes crumpets coated in honey from the realm's distant hive-keepers.  She's too busy to worry about yet another trouble, so she lets Denris handle the prophecy.-Guffy of LakesideA young, optimistic bard who can't seem to find a patron.  He has loads of unfinished scripts, none of which seem too impressive to the PCs.  If this character is instead a friend of a PC, he/she has been writing verse secretly and doesn't consider his/her work ready for public scrutiny.-Commander ReisThe stoic leader of a small bodyguard (a number of soldiers just larger than the PCs can effectively fight) charged with ensuring Denris and the ornithopter go unmolested.  Reis is a reasonable woman, and sees Denris more as a duty than a savior.-Denris of EnwallThe slightly mousy, eye patch-wearing (see the Dormitory) engineer who wears a sagely robe and flip-flops.  He thinks that his ideas are always superbly clever, and gives off a sense of entitlement.  He's actually an apprentice sorceror who can create light loads of electricity at will, as well as conjure an invisible, magical hand to manipulate things for him.  Encounters-Guffy/writer-friend: has heard the Prophecy verbally from someone gossiping or a wandering bard.  He's fascinated by its infamy, and wants to write something equally impactful.  He hopes that studying the prophecy and quizzing Denris on it will lead to insights that allow him to find fame.  So he'd like to meet Denris, regardless of the PC's motivation.  When Guffy meets Denris later, Denris apprehensively says that he would show Guffy the prophecy if he weren't so busy.  He then asks the PCs to complete one of his errands (see Denris encounter).-Commander Reis: her primary motivation is to safeguard the ornithopter, the dormitory, and Denris when he's in the area.  Denris leaves on occasion to perform "important tasks," or "ornithopter maintenance."  Reis's bodyguard won't let the PCs into the dormitory without Denris's permission, but sneaking in is an option.  Commander Reis doesn't pay close attention to what Denris does, just that he's safe from harm.-Denris: spends some of his time "maintaining" the ornithopter, but spends equal amounts of time relaxing in his dormitory and taking trips to the castle.  He's happy to explain how the ornithopter works, and how his vast knowledge allows him to keep it up.  He uses his magic to make the machine's runes shine; his magical hand easily turns the stubborn crank, and his low-voltage magic causes a hum in the pipes that echoes throughout the cave, sounding like a giant bee buzzing within.  To keep the PCs from being too nosy, Denris asks the PCs to perform errands for pay.  These include picking up his weekly "supply box" from the castle (it's a sealed crate containing honey jars and a sack of coffee beans), carefully polishing the ornithopter (which gives the PCs a good look at the meaningless runes and the honey deposits in the cave), and filling his outdoor bathtub with fresh seawater (he claims he's so busy that he "never gets down to the water").  -Ornithopter: PCs can inspect a winged, helicopter-like contraption covered in "magical runes."  It has a crankhouse situated outside the "cursed" cave near the dormitory, and two metal pipes/axles run to the propeller mechanisms just within the cave.  The crank is almost impossible to turn, which dissuades anyone other than Denris (or his magic hand) from regularly operating it.  The propellers block most of the cave, but one could crawl through when they're not in operation.  Beyond lies small honey deposits (placed by Denris) and "wasp droppings" (coffee beans) that Denris says are proof of the demonic wasp within.-Seaside showdown: when Denris is "maintaining" the ornithopter, he's actually just living the good life down on the beach, which is to where the cave leads.  He tries to keep PCs at bay by asking them to turn the crank while he's clearing honey deposits that might hamper propeller movement.  The PCs can wander through the cave to find Denris relaxing on a beach chair at the beach with a hot cup of honey-sweetened coffee.  With only one eye left to lose, Denris tries to flee to his bodyguard and claim that the PCs are an immediate threat to his well-being.Detail-The Prophecy"From lands beneath our own, it is born; when winds from afar blow, doom follows; the scourge rides the wind, feel its sting; arrest not the beholder, only his eye."  Denris, like Guffy, has only heard the prophecy verbally - he doesn't like reading after losing an eye.  He interprets the "beholder" line as "bee-holder," which is why he describes the demon as wasp-like.-The DormitoryA luxurious hut with a kitchenette and incriminating correspondence.  Denris stores his snacks here, including the coffee and honey.  A thorough investigation reveals a scroll with the Prophecy, and a letter from another lord explaining why he had to take Denris's eye: peeping on the lady of the house.  Denris left that lord's lands in disgrace, and seeks the comfort that he deserves here, making due without an eye.    ResolutionPossible outcomes include the following.  The PCs:-decide that nothing requires investigating and leave.  Denris becomes paranoid, thinking the PCs know something about his ruse, and decides to attack them once they're away from his bodyguard/witnesses.-can present evidence to Commander Reis about the ruse, who will leave the bodyguard behind and confer with Lady Bea before arresting Denris.-confront Denris where he cannot deny his ruse: on the beach.  A battle of wills or weapons ensues.  Denris has lost one life already, and he won't give up his new one without a fight.-receive a reward from Lady Bea if/when the truth comes out: ownership of the dormitory.</blockquote>

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