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Arsonists Almanac Issue 2 PDF
Arsonists Almanac Issue 2 PDF
Arsonists
Almanac
A Fanzine for roleplaying in the world of
Rowan, Rook and Decard’s
Spire: The City Must Fall RPG
Powered by the Resistance System
In This Issue
“The Mellified Man”
- A one-shot adventure
Copyright
The Legendary Mellified Man ……………… 5
Opening Scene …………………………………………………… 6
The NPCs & their Factions …………………… 6
Spire: The City Must Fall RPG
Warehouse Content Generator ……………… 7
&
Random Knight Generator ………………………… 8
The Resistance System
Ephemera Club Invitation List ……… 13
are copyright of Rowan, Rook and Decard.
A Sticky End? ………………………………………………… 16
If you haven’t already purchased Spire, then
Pre-generated Characters …………………… 17
treat yourself and buy the game at
Inn of the Brittle Bow Map …………… 22
https://rowanrookanddecard.com/
Random Drow Generator …………………………… 23
+++++++
+++++++
3
The Mellified Man
A One-Shot Scenario for the SPIRE RPG
4
One-Shot Options The Briefing
This scenario could be stretched into a The Ministry knows of the battle of
campaign, involving the factions on the influence between Viscount Bright-
Council, Deep Apiarists, morticians guild Warden-of-the-Grey-Castle & Under-
& trips up-city, but its designed as a Bishop Tiller-of-the-Palm-Trees. The
one-shot. It has a simple premise: the ministry would be quite happy to in-
characters must wreck the party being jure both politically. The success of
one does not necessarily guarantee
held by Viscount Bright-Warden-of-the-
the failure of the other.
Grey-Castle. Mix and reuse these elements
as your emerging story requires but I can The Ministry knows that things have
suggest the following initial configura- arrived at a turning point & that the
tions based on available session time: upcoming meeting of the “Ephemera
Up to Four Hours Game Time Supper Club” could well see the Vis-
count emerge with the most influence.
Start: Just before the Ephemera Supper They have heard whispers that the Az-
Club begins urite Mologa Milhouse has procured
something which will seal the Vis-
Locales: Inn of the Brittle Bow
counts favour with influential mem-
NPCs: Sharp-Sour-Cherry bers of the supper club.
The Viscount
Half The Guests The agents are charged with under-
The Knights of St. Gwylim standing what is happening & spoiling
The Under-Bishop the Viscounts reputation & thus his
influence. The Under-Bishop is to be
Up to Eight Hours Game Time
considered a “Target of Opportunity”
Start: 1 day before the Ephemera Sup- for similar reputational destruction
per Club meets or corruption. Above all the finger-
prints of the Ministry must not be
Additional Locales: attached to the downfall of either,
The Blue Bazaar
lest this become a source of sympathy
The Milhouse Emporium of Im-
ported Exotica
that could undermine the impact of
The Electrum Peace their fall from grace.
Additional NPCs:
Eadword Vale
Mologa Milhouse
Tel
All The Guests
The Legendary Mellified Man
Up to 12 Hours Game Time The Mellified Man is a human mummy
confection from faraway Plür. Legend
Start: Two days before the Ephemera tells of its incredible medicinal ef-
Supper Club meets fect. It is created by steeping a hu-
man in honey. The story goes that
Additional Locales:
The Blue Docks
some elderly men in far off Plür,
The Vermissian nearing the end of their lives, do-
Additional NPCs: nate themselves as a holy sacrifice
Stevedores of the Blue Docks to a process of mummification in hon-
The Band ey.
The Deep Apiarists
The mellification process starts be-
13 Hours Plus Game Time fore death. The votary stops eating
Start: Several days before the Ephemera any food other than honey, even bath-
Supper Club meets ing in the substance. Shortly, his
sweat and faeces would consist of
Additional Locales: honey &, when this diet finally
Amaranth proved fatal, the donor's body would
Additional NPCS: be placed in a honey filled stone
The Morticians Guild coffin with an inscription giving the
Agents of Plür year & month of burial.
5
After a century or so, the seals are ing for the fact that those songs
removed & the contents turned into a would land her & her co-accused in
sort of confection reputedly capable jail. The Mellified Man is just such a
of healing broken limbs & so on. This deal.
confection would then be sold by
church representatives as a hard to Her problem is that she has over-
find medicine with a hefty price. None extended herself to such a degree that
have been seen for a century & never failure in this deal could bring utter
outside of Plür. ruin, pariah status & physical death.
If (when) the Mellified man should be- This azurite is almost the platonic
come animated it will have the follow- ideal of her class. A wheeler & a
ing attributes - every time it does dealer, unconcerned with misdemean-
stress it recovers and regenerates it- ours. She has only three great joys in
self by ½ the value of the stress life but she pursues each of these so
it inflicts. frequently that she is quite cheery in
person. Her joys are: the striking of
Difficulty: 2 a deal, the bending of a rule, & the
Resistance: 20 acquisition of wealth (primarily as a
Equipment: Honey slingshot (D3, means of keeping score).
Ranged, one shot) Suffocating grapple
(D3, Suffocating, ignores armour) She is currently carrying very limited
stock in her warehouse because her op-
erating capital is tied up in the Mel-
Opening Scene lified Man. She gets final full pay-
ment on delivery of the casket to the
A procession of aelfir & their attend- Inn of The Brittle Bow in the aelfir
enclave of Uptown. She has hired the
ants pass through the Blue Bazaar to-
Order of St. Gwylim to watch over her
wards the aelfir enclave of Uptown. warehouse (situated near their home
The crowd parts to let them past tavern, The Electrum Peace) & to se-
(driven back by the groups paid ruffi- curely transport the casket to the
ans, the Knights of the Order of St. Viscount in Uptown.
Gwylim). The procession are leaving
She wears a spectacularly vast, blue
the “Milhouse Emporium of Imported Ex- turban on which a flip down mask is
otica” where they had some dealings attached, allowing her to meet aelfir
with the proprietor. customers at only a moments notice.
The Turban is crowned with a silver
pyramid on which each of its four face
have been etched with an all seeing
eye. She is attended by her aide, a
NPCs & their factions loyal drow named Tel, who is rumored
to be quite handy with his fists (&
fancies himself a troubadour and la-
dies man).
Mologa Milhouse, Azurite
Mologa Milhouse
at large Difficulty: 0, (1 when negotiating)
Resistance: 5
“I swear on my broodmothers grave, Equipment: Blade of Unbalanced Scales
that I’d love to procure for you what- (D3 Blood & D3 Silver)
ever you desire, but if I get caught
traversing the border with contraband Tel (general dogsbody & minder)
they’ll stick me in the rendering vat. Difficulty: 0
Dying would ruin my living. So, it’ll Resistance: 8
cost you.” Equipment: Fists D4
Her goal is to carry off a deal so ri-
diculously risky & profitable that
songs would be sung about it, except-
6
Emporium of Imported Exotica & consequently the warehouse is weird-
ly empty except for a large locked
The warehouse of Mologa Milhouse is cage within the warehouse proper.
situated in the Blue Bazaar, catty-
corner to the inn, The Electrum Peace. This “Secure” area is dominated by a
Here Mologa stores a range of oddities stone casket (the current resting
that she has procured speculatively or place of the Mellified Man), which is
for specific customers (“suckers”). covered in inscriptions in the ancient
Usually it’s packed with boxes, casks, pictograms of Plür. The cage is lined
doo-dads, delicacies & various legally with some 20 smaller containers. Roll
dubious material. D20 on the table below if players
search through some containers. The
However, Mologa has invested nearly longer they linger the greater the
all her liquidity into obtaining the chance of being discovered.
Mellified man on behalf of her client
Roll a D20 on the Table of Exotica stored in the “Secure” area of the warehouse:
7
Sir Peregrine The
Specious, Grand Master of
the Order of St. Gwylim &
a Human
“I’m the strongest of the order, with
the sharpest-mind. And my breeding is
irreproachable. So tap that barrel and
drink up you dogs!” Ser Peregrine The Specious
8
Eadword is an enormous, ancient drow,
The Order of Saint Gwylim and former Sergeant of Arms of the Or-
der of St. Gwylim. He was forced to
Operating out of the tavern, The Elec- retire from the order having been
trum Peace, the order was dedicated to struck across the face with a broken
the memory of one Hieronymous Gwylim bottle during a particularly vibrant
(“Canonised”). brawl. His age and record mean he is
trusted by the order to act as their
As a result of an administrative error purser. His cousin is the innkeeper of
a century ago, he came into possession the Inn of The Brittle Bow in Uptown
of a magical chalice which would con- (the widow Sour-Sharp-Cherry) and it
stantly replenish itself with wine (or is through this fortuitous connection
so the story goes). Blessed Hieronmous that much business has been done.
drank himself to death in a decades
long fit of drunkenness & brawling so He is actively salting money away for
spectacular that several folk-songs his own imminent retirement. The only
still circulate regarding his exploits person Eadword genuinely trusts is his
(“The Red Nosed Ruffian”, “The Soused cousin, Sour-Sharp-Cherry, whom he in-
Joust”, “Punch-Drunk or Drunk-Drunk” tends to include in his retirement po-
etc.). lans.
St. Gwylim’s Chalice is long lost but His blinded & ruined eye still weeps,
it was inevitable that an order of trickling puss down his cheeks follow-
knights would eventually come together ing the line of his scars. Otherwise
in his memory. he wears a long apron typical of his
trade.
9
“The Satisfied Customer” a holy relic of the Order of Saint Gwylim in The Electrum Peace
10
The Widow, Sour-Sharp- with accented colours of dark grey and
bright yellow. The topiary here is
Cherry, Innkeeper of the clipped to within an inch of its gar-
deners sanity. To cool the patrons
Inn of the Brittle Bow enormous blocks of ice are placed in
“Do not listen to my words with the the corners of each room. Ice-
intent to reply, but rather, with the sculptures act as centrepieces in most
of the main rooms. The Inn is built
intent to comply. Now fetch the next around an enclosed courtyard (planted
course and never look another patron with a type of sinuous blossom tree
in the mask again“ that’s been twisted & contorted so it
looks like a mockery of a screaming
humanoid which is hedged with some-
Her goal is to have just one “perfect” thing extremely thorny). Terrifying
day where no one needs to be told what “works-of-art” adorn every alcove.
to do.
The Inn has a long standing contract
Her problem is that having been with The Electrum Peace to supply ad-
trained to the most exacting standards ditional muscle, musicians & food when
she can find fault with the behaviour required. Eadword secretly takes a
of everyone around her, high-born or small percentage of this transaction
low, drow or aelf - as such she will for himself.
simply never be satisfied with the
performance of her staff.
12
EPHEMERA CLUB INVITATION LIST
1. 3.
Marshal Vine-of-the-Mountain-Chapel General Harshly-Breathes-the-Tiger
Ancient Military Governor of Aelfir Military General - with responsibility
Controlled Nujab for Special Forces operations in the
Nujab
“By St. Djingos Mask! Massacre is not
a dirty word sirrah. It is my ”I learned to master pain from a young
philosophy” age, at the tip of my mothers Sabre.
But I learned to master demons in the
Description: Epaulettes, a riding crop corps.”
& riding boots, a rifle green military
jacket (three parallel rows of silver Description: A fierce snarling ruby
buttons run down the right, middle and colored lizard. Black robes draped
left chest, each row of buttons sit on with chains crossing each shoulder ep-
parallel strips of dark green materi- aulet. Carries a spectacular Sabre
al) and the mask of a viscous jewel
toothed hound. Secret: Occultists - carries an eido-
lon at all times
Secret: Allergic to shellfish and a
host of other foods - he nevertheless Difficulty: 1
exposes himself to small amounts in Resistance: 10
order to stimulate his jaded senses Equipment: Sabre (D4)
Difficulty: 0 (1 if accompanied by
Wild-Winter-Flurry)
Resistance: 7 Dining Room, The Inn of the Brittle Bow
Equipment: Ceremonial Mace (D6, Bru-
tal)
14
Carries a smoker which he often uses
to create a puff of smoke to disguise
his exit from a location.
Difficulty: 1
Resistance: 15
Equipment: Stiletto (1D6 Piercing),
Smoker (1D3, choking)
Roald is offended by the use of the A tall gaunt ashen skinned drow, her
Mellified Man - it is a sacred thing face is painted bone white and black
to be treasured & respected. As such to give the impression of a living
It is his solemn goal to secure the skull.. Wildish dresses in the robes &
artefact so that he and his kind may chains of her office and carries a
pay homage to the sacrifice of the sickle.
original votive.
Difficulty: 1
His problem is that he has a somewhat Resistance: 15
distinctive and disturbing countenance Equipment: sickle (D6, Brutal)
and finds it hard to get others to co-
operate with him. He also knows that
once he acts he will face a stiff re- Agents of Plür
sponse - being attacked by a walking
bee-hive can galvanise remaining oppo- “For this insült to oür peoples and
nents into the most violent of re- traditions we will have oür Vengeance.
sponses. Let loose the Frogs of War!”
17
You were formerly an agent for Wander- Low Abilities
ing-Stars-Crawl-Slowly, for whom you Ignoble Tactics, The Golden God’s Ar-
purchased art from a variety of legit- cana [Divine], Buy Friends [Divine]
imate & untrustworthy dealers. Your
parting was not amicable, having been Medium Abilities
accused of closing deals in a way that Azures Grace
did not meet with your masters approv-
al you were lashed prior to being
ejected from the aelfirs estate.
Domain: Crime, Commerce, High Society You were a spy for General Harshly-
Breathes-the-Tiger where you exulted
Bonds: in your ability to uncover the secrets
You have an individual level debt of your masters enemies. As time
with Velina Chalk, a drow who smug- passed however you began to feel un-
gles things for a living. You got easy that the majority of your masters
them out of a tight spot in the enemies turned out to be drow & you a
past (involving a jade dragon and tool in their downfall.
some irate customs officials)
You have a bond with one NPC that Relations with the General broke down
you may name when it becomes narra- & he ultimately “burned” you by re-
tively useful. You helped them out vealing your true identity to new-
of a debt. When you name them say found friends in the Vermissian Commu-
who and why they got into debt in nity. This was done as part of another
the first place. ongoing operation with zero regard for
your safety. It was merely the cost-of
Equipment: -doing-business for the General.
Three sets of beautiful blue robes
Luckily your new friends were under-
and girdles, Golden necklaces, nose
standing, & having observed your natu-
-rings & bracelets bearing the sym-
ral interest in the mysteries of the
bol of Azur.
Vermissian, took you in & initiated
A bodyguard (D6, Tiring) you into the “way of the rails”. It
was only a matter of time before the
Core Abilities: Ministry came calling to recruit your
Cut a Deal, Hearts Desire talents for the cause.
18
Resistances: Mind +3, Shadow +1, Blood Melisande Laurentian
+1, (+1 armour)
Idol & former Sage
Refresh: Uncover hidden information
Bonds:
You have a street-level bond to your
adoring fans. Name three of them, and
what the group is most excited to see
next.
You have a bond with an NPC which you
may declare during play when it is
most narratively convenient. You know
they have feelings for you, even if
they won’t admit it.
Equipment:
Several sets of flattering clothing
19
Tools to create or perform your cho- undeveloped psyche.
sen art
Small gifts and trinkets from your At last you were forced to track some
fans run-away servant child intent on es-
caping their durance with Viscount
A knife (D3, Concealable)
Bright-Warden-of-the-Grey-Castle. You
found her alright, what choice did you
Core Abilities:
have? What became of that child you do
Life & Soul of the Party. Glamour.
not know - but his terrified screaming
will live with you until your dying
Low Abilities
days.
Grace. Who are they? Disharmony
Skills:
Pursue, Sneak, Resist, Compel, Fight
Bonds:
You have one street-level bond with
the servants of your old master. Name
three of them and describe their jobs,
and note down the masters name and the
worst thing they ever did to you or
someone else under their power.
You have a bond with an NPC, to be
named by you when it is narratively
convenient, who you assisted during
their durance. Who was it? How did you
help them out?
Equipment:
Your mask (describe it), Two sets of
Violent-Autumn-Antlers nice clothing (describe them), Servant
mask (carries the sign of your old
Masked & Former Hunter master), Hawking dueling pistol
(Damage D6, Piercing, Ranged, One-
shot)
“Nothing equals the thrill in stalking
your prey, finding them, undetected,
Core Abilities:
in some private moment. Moving invisi-
Smell Status, Servant to the High Ones
bly through the world, so that your
entire being is a lie of omission and
Low Abilities:
commission all at once.”
One of the staff, One Eye Open, Insti-
tutional Falsehood
You were the estate game-keeper for
Consul Orchard-Conjures-Fruit. The
Medium Abilities:
jaded aelfir could find no happiness
Mask of the Killer
or sadness and pushed you into ever
more outlandish hunts to stimulate his
20
Refresh: Bring a criminal to justice
Bonds:
You have an individual bond with a
member of the downtrodden underclass.
Name them and name the things that’s
most important to them
You have a bond with a drow NPC who
you rescued from a dangerous situa-
tion. Describe the situation they
found themselves in.
Equipment:
Light leather armour (Armour 2)
Ceremonial red binding ropes & mask
Sturdy leather gloves
Climbing gear and ropes
God-Axe (D6, Bound)
Estienne Quartzite
Bound & former Killer Core Abilities:
Surprise Infiltration, Bound Blade
21
22
Servants, Patrons, Stevedores & other Drow - Roll 4D20
First Name Second Name
23
@ComanFullard
24