A Living Spycraft Mission for Level 2 Agents A Living Spycraft Mission for Level 2 Agents

Black Tie Black Tie

Formal by Chad Brunner
Formal by Chad Brunner

T
his is a standard Living Spycraft mission for a
team of up to six 2nd level agents. Set aside a
four-hour time block for this event. Begin by
asking everyone to present their agents and introduce
themselves. Make sure to inspect each agent’s history
to ensure it’s legal to play.
If someone arrives without a prepared Living
Spycraft agent, you may allow them to design a
1st-level agent using the standard Living Spycraft
agent creation rules while the others prepare for the
mission.
It’s a good idea to ask each player to use a name
tag. The tag should have the player's name at the bot-
tom, and the agent’s name, department, and gender
at the top. This makes it easier for the players to keep
track of who’s playing which character.
The actual playing time should be about three
hours. Make sure to let the players use the last 20 to
30 minutes of the event time block to briefly describe
their agents for each other, and to vote on each oth-
ers’ performance during the mission. Use the standard
RPGA Network voting procedures. Make sure everyone
has finished voting before you collect the players’ vot-
ing sheets. This way you won’t be influenced by their
votes and comments.
Shaded text within should be read to the players.
All other text is for the GC only.

TM
TM

Requires the use of the Spycraft™ Espionage Handbook, Requires the use of the Spycraft™ Espionage Handbook,
published by Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc., and the published by Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc., and the
Dungeons & Dragons ® Player’s Handbook, Dungeons & Dragons ® Player’s Handbook,
Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast .® Third Edition, published by Wizards of the Coast .®

1800-06
© 2002 Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
 1 2

How to Use This Product GC Introduction

Abbreviations The fall of Communism and the subsequent rise of Dem-
This adventure uses standard Spycraft NPC abbreviations, ocracy throughout Eastern Bloc nations led to a time of both
as follows: unprecedented growth and nearly inconceivable poverty.
Atk Attack Today, within the halls of government and industry, power-
Def Defense ful leaders wallow in opulence while outside their doors,
Fort Fortitude peasants line up for food and drink rations.
Init Initiative One of the greatest sources of wealth throughout the
Ref Reflex Eastern Bloc is the stockpile of military weapons and vehi-
Spd Speed cles housed within each of the countries that now occupy
SV Save the former Soviet Union. Auctioned off to the highest bidder,
v/wp vitality / wound points these weapons — including chemical and biological arsenals
Will Willpower capable of mass destruction — now regularly fall into the
Ability scores are abbreviated as normal (see the Spycraft hands of those willing to use them for their own diabolical
rules). needs.
One broker of these terrifying weapons is Ivan Stratovich,
To prepare to run this serial, you should read it completely at a former Soviet general of the Chechnyan military, who ar-
least once. You may wish to photocopy the map at the end of the ranged the theft of untold war surplus from remote Russian
download for ease of use as well. installations. These ill-gotten gains have netted Ivan millions
of dollars in profit, but he’s yet to sell his greatest prize —

Spycraft
This module requires the use of the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®
PLAYER’S HANDBOOK, THIRD EDITION, published by Wizards of the
Coast,® and Spycraft™ Espionage Handbook, published by Alderac
Entertainment Group, Inc. You won’t be able to run this adventure
without it.
Spycraft, Shadowforce Archer and all related marks are ™ and
© 2002 Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
the Chemical Distribution Missile Augmentation System
(CDMAS), an experimental chemical device designed to
couple with a conventional ICBM. When armed and mount-
ed, the CDMAS spreads its deadly cargo behind the missile
even as it speeds towards its target, potentially infecting
hundreds of thousands along the missile’s flight path before
detonation. Ivan’s quiet inquiries throughout the black
market have yielded several offers, though he’s accepted
none. His inquiries have also drawn the Agency’s attention,
which leads to the agents being sent in to find and disable
or destroy the device.

Blacktie Formal
Ivan himself provides a perfect cover for the operation. His
incredible profits have gone to his head, and he’s arranged
a gala to display several pieces of art recently acquired with
Author: Chad Brunner his illicit earnings. The party is by invitation only, and Ivan
Art Director: jim pinto invites only society’s upper crust, many of whom he’s never
Brand Manager: Patrick Kapera met before. The agents need only join the festivities.
Editor: Patrick Kapera The party is to be held in three days.
Creative Director: Mark Jelfo
Graphic Design: Dave Agoston Serial Synopsis
Cover Illustration: Jason Walker Black Tie Formal follows the standard Spycraft serial
Cartography: Cris Dornaus format, and is divided into an Introduction and three Scenes.

Mission Briefing and Gearing Up: The agents receive their

briefing from Control in Moscow. They’re given the CDMAS’
possible location — in the manor house of Ivan Stratovich,
a former Soviet general — with instructions to infiltrate the
manor, find the weapon and destroy it, along with any other
evidence or materials related to its design and development.
The team’s cover during the infiltration is a celebration and
art showing hosted by Ivan in three days. The CDMAS sale
is rumored to take place within the week following the art
showing, so time is of the essence.
 3 4
Scene One — RSVP: The agents are transported to a city
near Ivan’s manor. They have three days to arrange methods
to enter the building, since the skills of the entire team will
be needed once inside.
Scene Two — Dry Clean Only: During the gala, the agents
explore Ivan’s facilities. They must escape the ongoing cele-
bration, avoid the guards, search the building, and destroy
the CDMAS.
Scene Three — Party Crashers: A sudden complication
arrives in the form of several well-armed rebels who attempt
to take Ivan and his guests hostage, using them as chips
to barter the release of several of their comrades currently
held in a nearby Chechnyan prison. The agents must deal
with the rebels and arrange for an appropriate escape from
the embassy.
Mission Briefing
Read the following to begin this serial.
Your team is summoned to a nearby airport and directed to
a private chartered lear jet. As the plane taxis onto the run-
way, you’re informed that the flight is heading for Chechnya.
Control is busy elsewhere, but provides a video briefing and
additional hard copies of your mission files. The flight atten-
dant starts the video as the plane lifts off…
Control’s image, seated behind a wide flat desk, appears on
the screen. His sharp British accent matches his tailored black
suit. Behind him, a monitor flickers to life as he begins.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’re en route to Chechnya to con-
duct an espionage and sabotage mission. An ex-Soviet gen-
eral named Ivan Stratovich has managed to steal a prototype
for a chemical distribution system designed to piggyback on
a conventional ICBM, delivering a deadly chemical payload
over thousands of miles. This device, the Chemical Distri-
bution Missile Augmentation System, or CDMAS for short,
will be on auction to the highest bidder in the next few
weeks. We can’t let this device fall into the wrong hands. You
must find and destroy the prototype, along with any research
materials Stratovich might have about it.”
The monitor flickers to reveal a strong-jawed man in his late
40’s, wearing a Russian military uniform.
“Stratovich is pretty small potatoes, but considering how
volatile the region is, we can’t afford to go in there guns
blazing and potentially create an international incident.
Luckily, the general has provided us a way in. He’s just come
into considerable wealth from selling weapons on the black
market, and he’s been collecting priceless works of art left
and right as a way to buy his way into the upper class. He’s
arranged for a showing of his new collection and invited
many European notables, most of which we’re pretty sure he
doesn’t know personally. You’ll be among the guests.”
The image switches again to display a large manor house,
surrounded by a tall stone wall.
“The showing takes place in three days, which should give you
plenty of time to prepare. You’re to infiltrate the manor house
during the gala, complete your mission, and withdraw with-
out notice.”
“We’ve provided floor plans for the manor that we believe are
at least marginally accurate, and you may draw upon R&D as
usual. Security should be lowered during the art showing, but
I advise against taking hardware that might attract attention.
“That’s all agents. Make us proud.”
The plane lands in Chechnya, approximately an hour
by vehicle to the safe house assigned to the agents until the
evening of the gala.
Gearing Up
Per the Living Spycraft rules, the GC should provide
the agents with a time limit of 20–30 minutes to choose gear
and gadgets.
This mission is Code: Yellow.
The agents may requisition any standard-issue gear they
wish, but they may choose no individual gadget valued
above 4 GP (except vehicles). All gear and gadgets the agents
requisition arrives at the safe house within 24 hours after
their arrival.
Remind the agents that stealth is vital during this mission.
While the agents might be able to smuggle weapons past the
guards, any breach of security is considered a failed mission
objective.
Recommended Gadgets
If time is short or the GC wishes to get straight to
the action, it’s encouraged that he assign gadgets from the
following list, or allow the agents to normally requisition
gadgets from these options.
• Standard belt (1 GP), possibly with a lockpick (+1 GP) or a razor’s edge
(+1 GP).
• Standard attaché case (1 GP), possibly with the “magic box“ (+1 GP) or
safe passage (+1 GP) options.
• Dartgun or spray cigarettes (1 GP per 2 for either).
• Endless prism earrings (1 GP per pair).
• Poison lipstick (2 GP per 3 uses).
• Document scanner (1 GP).
• Memory paper (1 GP per 2 pages).
• Other-directional glasses (1 GP).
• Translator lenses (3 GP).
• X-ray lenses (2 GP).
 5 6
• Standard shoe option (1 GP per pair) with blade (+1 GP) or shock-tip (+2
GP) options.
• Radio tooth (2 GP).
Scene 1: RSVP
Agent Description
Read the following to kick off the action in Scene 1.
GC Description
Your destination. the town of Milivoi. is smeared out across
the mountain range below your low-flying chartered plane.
Situated roughly halfway between the Chechnyan cities of
Shali and Kirovauya, southeast of Grozny, Milivoi was pre-
served from the worst of the Russian conflict, yet still it bears
the scars of a country at war. The isolated mountain refuge is
littered with the expired husks of vehicles used to flee Grozny
and other battle sites, and homes are secured as best the
occupants can manage against intrusion. At the outermost
edges of town, you can even make out signs of recent fight-
ing, though the town is at rest at the moment.
At the extreme southern edge of Milivoi, surrounded by a
quarter-mile plain of open terrain, you spot a three-story
manor that matches the intel you’ve received about
Stratovich’s home. Kept in far superior shape to any other
building in town, the manor house is resplendent, a burning
example of the Russian General’s recent material gains. and
his excesses.
Preparations for the gala have already begun. Tents are erect-
ed outside the manor house and groundskeepers work fever-
ishly to taper and sculpt the hedges along the property’s edge
and the expansive garden in front and behind the building.
Your pilot brings you down a few miles outside town. He says
that he’ll return the night of the gala. “Unless there’s fight-
ing. Then you’re on your own.”
While at the safe house, the agents may arrange for
invitations to the gala, or investigate Ivan Stratovich and his
holdings.
The agents are provided with the manor house floor plans
(see page 23-24 for a prop to hand them during play and
page 21-22 for keyed manor house location descriptions), but
they’re told that nothing is known about the lower floor.
The agents need to find a way into the manor without
attracting attention. The most likely options are:
1. Acquiring a returned invitation: Over 200 invitations were
sent out three weeks ago, each for one person and a guest.
Up to 1d10 RSVPs arrive by return mail each day, allow-
ing the agents to steal one or more from the manor house
mail drop before the servants collect them.
2. Forging an invitation: Agents who inquire in town about
invitations to the art showing are directed to the local
print shop, which is happy to show the agents one of the
samples, but refuse to part with it. The agents may easily
break into the shop at night to acquire one or more
of these samples. The door lock has a hardness of 4 with
20 wound points and a Break DC of 15, and no addition-
al security. Forging an invitation from memory after
a visit to the print shop is relatively easy as well, having
a DC of 15.
3. Breaking in: Though not recommended by Control, agents
may attempt to break into the manor just before the show-
ing. See page 17 for details about manor security and
guards.
The agents may also attempt to glean additional informa-
tion about Stratovich, the manor, or the art show by asking
around town. The information gained depends upon the
result of the team’s Gather Information check. The GC may
choose to roleplay the conversations that produce this infor-
mation, releasing a few parcels during each encounter.
Check Results
10 Ivan has just recently come into money,
and is eager to buy his way into high soci-
ety. Most people in town view him as little
more than a thug, and only grudgingly
accept him. It’s unlikely Ivan even knows
most of the people invited to his event.
The manor has been in the Stratovich
family for years. Recently, some rebel
activity has been taking place outside the
city, but it’s relatively quiet now.
15 Trucks are seen pulling in and out of the
manor on a regular basis, but what they’re
carrying is anyone’s guess. The art show
is the first time Stratovich has opened his
doors to the public. He usually keeps the
house well guarded and locked up like a
safe.
20 Rebel activity in the area has risen
dramatically since a small group was
captured and put in a nearby prison.
Though some in town have looked to
Stratovich for help in protecting the city,
most are sure that should it come to that,
Stratovich will only protect his own land.
25 Stratovich has ties with the Russian black
market, and has been dealing weapons since
his retirement. Within the past few months,
his dealings have grown in size dramatical-
ly. Well-armed guards patrol the grounds of
his property as well as inside the building.
30 Rumors persist that the rebels are about
to attack the nearby prison to free their
comrades.
 7 8
Threats
There are no notable threats during this scene. The agents
can move about with relative freedom until the gala.
Rewards
Keep track of the agents’ accomplishments throughout this
scene and reward them with the following XP at the serial’s
end accordingly.
Note: Experience is not rewarded until the serial’s end, and
agents may not gain levels during a serial.
• Acquiring one or more real invitations to the gala:
75 xp per agent.
• Breaking into print shop and acquiring the sample
invitation: 50 xp per agent.
• Forging one or more invitations: 50 xp per agent
• Learning one or more rumors with a Gather
Information DC of 20 or less: 50 xp per agent.
• Learning one or more rumors with a Gather
Information DC of 25 or more: 100 xp per agent.
Development
Acquiring an invitation to the art showing directly leads
the agents into Scene 2 (the gala), during which they enter
the manor and search for the CDMAS and other relevant
information about Stratovich and his plans.
Scene 2: Dry Clean Only
Agent Description
The gala begins promptly at 8 pm. Read the following
as the agents arrive.
Your Agency-provided towncar pulls up to the Stratovich
manor, finally through the long queued stream of cars and
limosines winding their way down the wide trail and through
the enormous gate arching over the thick stone walls that ring
the building. The manor is brilliantly illuminated by spotlights
which have no doubt been brought in just for the occasion.
At the entryway, two men open your car’s doors and escort
you into the building…
GC Description
A map of the manor house is provided on page 21-22, and
the accompanying map descriptions included later in this
scene offer guard locations and Stratovich’s placement dur-
ing the gala and the rebel attack.
This is a time-driven scene, and the GC should be careful
to keep track of the time and include it regularly in his
descriptions. Taking 10 or 20 with skill checks is dangerous
here, potentially triggering Scene 3 before the agents are
ready to deal with the rebels.
The evening proceeds according to schedule. Game text
is provided for agents who participate in the gala’s events
(perhaps to provide cover for other team members lurking
about the manor).
Schedule of events and game text:
8pm Gal a Begins
As you present your invitation and proceed into the ante-
chamber, you note that Stratovich has spared no expense to
promote his opulence and prestige. Spaced along the walls
you find rows of seemingly priceless statues, paintings,
and tapestries illuminated from overhead spotlights. Milling
about, guests speak quietly in small clusters, their voices too
low to make out unless you brazenly join the conversation.
Shortly after 8pm, a small chime is heard, and Stratovich him-
self makes an appearance, striding down the center stairwell
from the third floor with all the bold demeanor of the super-
rich. The audience applauds politely and Stratovich raises his
hand to quiet them, then speaks…
“My friends. Please enjoy the humble pleasures of my home.
Later this evening, I will personally conduct a tour of the
manor and my art collection, and then we can retire to the
dining room for a late supper. Until then, do not hesitate
to prevail upon my staff should you need anything.”
With introductions aside, Stratovich proceeds back up the
stairs and disappears into the darkness of the third floor.
9pm Stratovich Personally Le a d s
Tour o f Manor
At precisely 9 pm, Stratovich once more appears, this time
smiling and motioning for the guests to follow. His tour of
the manor includes comments on each of his prized acquisi-
tions in detail (often with incorrect facts, you notice). The
guests proceed along at a slow pace, smiling and nodding
occasionally at their host’s exubberant anecdotes.
10pm Tour Concl udes and Dinner
Begins
The tour concludes in the dining room, where the table is laid
out with an exquisite variety of foods from all around the
world. Stratovich mingles among the guests as they move to
sample the delicacies.
10:30pm Rebels atta c k
This event is left optional in case the first two scenes leave no
time for another. In this case, proceed to the debriefing.
Otherwise, proceed to Scene 3 for a description of this event.
 9 10
Full-fledged water pursuits in the marina are handled nor-
mally. Dr. Starling’s lead carries over from the ground chase
to the water, and he gains 1d4 additional leads each round
the agents are stuck at the docks without a way to pursue.
Map Key
The following map key provides descriptions of each
manor location, as well as details about the movements
of guards and spectators. Please refer to this text while run-
ning this open-ended scene.
Ground Fl oor
The ground floor is filled with guests and servants
throughout most of the evening. Four guards walk the floor
in pairs of two. They’re dressed casually, but the GC should
make Spot checks (DC 15) to see whether each agent notices
them. With a Spot check result of 20 or more, the agent also
notices a well-concealed Glock 18 under each guard’s vest.
The majority of the ground floor is composed of visiting
rooms, dining areas, and staff areas (including the kitchen).
The center stairway leads up to the second and third floors,
and a small stairwell beneath a trapdoor in the southwest
leads to the cellar and basement.
1A. Antechamber: Two servants greet guests here, check-
ing their invitations and offering to take their coats, which
are taken to location #1K. Two guards stand near the
entrance to the Main Hall in formal military attire, their
weapons clearly visible. No one checks for weapons, so the
agents are able to smuggle in any weapons of Small size
or less without suspicion. Most guests pause only briefly
in this room before proceeding into the manor house proper.
1B. Main Hall: The majority of the festivities take place
in this massive 40-ft. long hall, flanked on both sides by
staircases that wind up through the manor’s center to the
second and third floors. Guests fill this chamber, and the
newest of Stratovich’s acquisitions line the walls. Agents can
move quite easily through the area and up the stairs without
attracting any attention. This is the first room visited during
Stratovich’s tour.
1C. Ball Room: The floor of this ornate ballroom has been
cleared and now hosts a series of tall bar-style tables, upon
which rest many decorative sculptures. Guests fill this room
as well, standing near the tables, sipping drinks and using the
carelessly laying their appetizer plates on the pedestals.
Agents can move freely through the area without attracting
any attention. This is the second room visited during
Stratovich’s tour, and the destination of many guests during
dinner. When the rebels attack, the guests are held hostage
here.
1D. Dining Room: The dining room houses a long, elegant
table that can seat nearly 30, exquisitely decorated for the
evening. Agents can move freely through this area without
attracting attention. The room isn’t part of the tour, during
which it’s full of servants preparing the room for the meal to
take place afterwards.
1E. Kitchen: The manor’s kitchen bustles with activity
throughout the evening. Servants are busy preparing trays of
drinks and appetizers while the cooks frantically prepare for
the gala’s formal dinner. Agents who enter this area may
initially attract the servants’ attention, but they are soon
after ignored, as the staff has far more important matters
to deal with.
1F. Pantry: This storage area contains dry foods and other
non-perishables. The room’s only visitors are occasional ser-
vants, searching for something needed for the dinner menu.
1G. Game Room: This room is clearly not very often used,
housing a number of abandoned musical instruments, the
centerpiece of which is a finely crafted antique harpsichord.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
1H. Servant’s Quarters: This area contains the sparse quar-
ters for the home’s male servants. No NPCs enter this room
during the gala.
1I. Servant’s Quarters: This area contains the sparse quar-
ters for the home’s female servants. Just outside this room,
along the home’s servant corridor, is a trapdoor leading
to a stairwell down into the cellar and the locked armory.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
1J. Sun Room: This room is designed to take full advan-
tage of the north and eastern sunlight, with impressive
stained glass windows along both walls. Near the windows
are box planters and hanging baskets, along several couches.
Tables were placed here recently, upon which are various
small pieces of attractive art. During the evening, guests
move freely between the ballroom and this chamber. This
is the third and final room visited during Stratovich’s tour.
1K. Informal Dining Room: Normally used by Stratovich
when he’s not entertaining, this area has been converted into
a makeshift coatroom. The table is strewn with stylish hats,
coats and furs, and a servant stands nearby at all times
to make sure no one leaves with someone else’s belongings.
Agents may move freely into this chamber, but should they
take too great an interest in the items here, the servant kind-
ly asks them to leave.
1L. Lounge: This small room contains several comfortable
couches and tables, with a wide variety of general interest
books and magazines liberally sprinkled throughout. Though
mainly unused by Stratovich, the servants enjoy the room
when guests aren’t about, and keep it clean and inviting.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
 11
1M. Portrait Room: The lighting in this room is kept dim.
Portraits of Stratovich’s ancestors (some dating back several
hundred years) are interspersed with classic oils bought with
the General’s ill-gotten black market earnings. The centerpiece
here is a portrait of Stratovich himself, standing proudly in full
military garb. No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
1N. Library: This library is lined wall to wall, floor to
ceiling, with rows of books, the majority of them at least 50
to 100 years old. In truth, Stratovich rarely enters this room,
as he keeps a private library on the third floor (location #3F).
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
1O. Trophy Room: The walls of the trophy room are lined
with the heads of animals bested by Stratovich’s ancestors.
Stratovich doesn’t consider himself much of a hunter,
though, and so this room has fallen into neglect. Though the
servants work to dust and maintain the items here, it’s clear
this room isn’t used often. No NPCs enter this room during
the gala.
Second Floor
The manor’s second floor contains a number of attractive
bedrooms, though Stratovich sleeps on the third floor. These
bedrooms are currently reserved for guests of the gala,
though no one has officially taken Stratovich up on the offer
as yet, so the rooms remain empty of personal belongings.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2A. Gentleman’s Bedroom: This bedroom contains a single
bed, a writing desk along one wall, and a dresser. It’s well
maintained, but hasn’t seen a guest in several weeks. No
NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2B. Ladies Bedroom: This bedroom contains a queen-sized
four-poster bed, a vanity along one wall, and a dresser.
It’s well maintained, but hasn’t seen a guest in several weeks.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2C. Gentleman’s Bedroom: This bedroom contains a single
bed, a writing desk along one wall, and a dresser. It’s well
maintained, but hasn’t seen a guest in several weeks.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2D. Ladies Bedroom: This bedroom contains a queen-sized
four-poster bed, a vanity along one wall, and a dresser.
It’s well maintained, but hasn’t seen a guest in several weeks.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2E. Couples Bedroom: Designed for married couples
staying over at the manor, this room houses a king-sized
four-poster bed, with both a writing desk and a vanity, and
a set of dressers. No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
12
2F. Nursery: A reminder of the Stratovich family’s history,
and the room where Ivan himself grew up, this room contains
a crib, a child’s bed, and several dressers along one wall.
A toy bin holds finely crafted wooden playthings, all decades
old. No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
2G. Stairwell: The manor’s central stairwell is a series
of winding wooden steps leading from the first floor through
the second and up to the third. Anyone on the stairs is usu-
ally visible from this location and anywhere on the stairs, but
careful agents may make a Hide check opposed by observers’
Search or Spot skills to move along the stairs without being
seen from another floor. Each floor is 10 feet above the level
below, and adventurous agents should have little trouble
jumping down between the staircases an emergency (making
a Tumble check to reduce or negate damage as described
on page 66 of the Spycraft Espionage Handbook.
Third Floor
The third floor houses all of Stratovich’s private rooms,
including his library, study, and bedroom. All of his business
matters are kept on file here in his study’s personal comput-
er. Two guards are supposed to be on watch here through the
evening of the gala, but they in fact play cards whenever
Stratovich isn’t around. The guards only leave the parlor
if they hear a noise, or if someone opens the parlor door.
Before the tour, Stratovich can be found in his study,
finalizing the details of the CDMAS sale.
3A. Bedroom: Stratovich’s bedroom is a vast, opulent
affair, anchored by a king-sized four-poster bed. The walls
are decorated with paintings of Stratovich in various military
poses and scenes, and sculptures dedicated to military
prowess rest on pedestals in each of the chamber’s corners.
Stratovich only uses this room to sleep, preferring to work
in the study (location #3C) or the media room (location #3D).
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
3B. Waiting Room: Stratovich commonly uses this room
to entertain guests while he conducts affairs elsewhere.
Several desks line the walls, each with modem and DSL
hookups, and a large screen TV with a direct satellite feed is
situated in the corner.
3C. Study: Stratovich conducts his personal business in
this room dominated by a large, oak desk. Bookcases flank
the desk against the walls, containing recent business,
finance, and modern arms and military equipment books.
A laptop computer sits on the desk throughout the gala.
It contains all of Stratovich’s files on the CDMAS, including
the bidders’ contact information. Other files list the contents
of the armory in the basement (location #4E), and potential
buyers for most of this hardware.
 13
The laptop is password protected (the password is
‘Ivantheterrible’), requiring a Computers check (DC 20) to
bypass. The agents may choose to destroy the files or take the
laptop with them, which is easily concealed within any stan-
dard-size briefcase.
Stratovich remains here until the tour, when he shows off
his new collection. During that time and afterwards, the door
to the study is locked, requiring an Open Lock (DC 15) or
Break (DC 15) check to enter.
3D. Media Room: One wall of this room is dominated by
a series of television screens. A desk sits in the middle of the
room, facing the screens, with a single remote sitting on
a stack of papers. Stratovich spends most of his time here
during the day, reviewing news reports from around the
world and watching foreign broadcasts to gain an accurate
picture of the Chechnyan rebel uprisings not 20 miles away.
The papers on the desk contain personal notes by
Stratovich commenting on the likelihood of the rebels taking
action sometime soon, and the potential of selling arms to
them.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
3E. Parlor: This waiting chamber contains a variety of
tables, chairs, and couches, and is far more comfortable than
the waiting room across the hall. Stratovich uses this room
to entertain female quests, and it has a much softer feel than
the rest of the house.
Two guards are posted here through the evening. These
men investigate all unusual noise on the third floor, though
agents caught where they shouldn’t be can convince the
guards that they’re lost with a successful Bluff check opposed
by the guards’ Sense Motive skill. With success, one of the
guards escorts the agents back downstairs and then returns
to the parlor. With failure, one of the guards watches the
agents while the other goes to get Stratovich.
3F. Library: Though similar to the library located on the
ground floor (location #1N), this room’s contents focus
exclusively on military history and strategy. Most of the
books here are clearly well read, and several sit open upon
a desk near the window. These open books relate to the
effect of arms escalation on a country’s economic strength.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
3G. Stairwell: The manor’s central stairwell is a series
of winding wooden steps leading from the first floor through
the second and up to the third. Anyone on the stairs is usu-
ally visible from this location and anywhere on the stairs, but
careful agents may make a Hide check opposed by observers’
Search or Spot skills to move along the stairs without being
seen from another floor. Each floor is 10 feet above the level
below, and adventurous agents should have little trouble
jumping down between the staircases an emergency (making
a Tumble check to reduce or negate damage as described on
page 66 of the Spycraft Espionage Handbook).
14
Basement
The basement’s outer façade is dressed up as a wine cellar
and food storage room, but beyond its locked door lie
Stratovich’s arms storage facilities. Four guards watch over
this floor, but only two of them are on patrol in the main
hallway (location #4I). Firearms used within the basement
alert the guards and all guests on the upper floors.
4A. Cellar: This cold, dark room is used to store the manor’s
perishables. Currently, it’s stacked nearly wall to wall with stock
for the celebration, and the agents find the room difficult
to navigate. The only clear paths lead to the doors to locations
#4B and #4C. The door leading to the north hallway (location
#4I) can be found behind a stack of empty boxes with a suc-
cessful Search check (DC 20). This door is always locked
(requiring a successful Open Lock check with a DC of 15 to
open), though Stratovich and each of the guards has keys.
Servants occasionally come downstairs during the gala for
more food or wine for the guests. Agents who are seen by the
servants receive a strange look, but arouse no additional
suspicion.
4B. Wine Cellar: This dank room is filled with wine racks,
most caked with dust. The wine cellar hosts a number
of excellent vintages, though none are sampled this evening
(as Stratovich has no intention of dipping into his personal
stores for people he doesn’t even know). No NPCs enter this
room during the gala.
4C. Cold Storage: This room houses several deep freezers
for long-term food storage. No NPCs enter this room during
the gala.
4D. Guard Barracks: This bedroom houses six of the twelve
guards living in the manor. They sleep in bunk beds, with
lockers at the end of each to store personal effects. None of
these personal effects are of use to the agents. No NPCs enter
this room during the gala.
4E. Weapons Locker: This room is secured with a stout lock
requiring a successful Open Lock check (DC 18) to bypass. With-
in are kept the manor guards’ weapons and ammunition. Three
lockers are found here, each requiring a successful Open Lock
check (DC 15) to get into. Each locker contains the following.
• 2 Glock 18 service pistols
• 1d4 Glock 18 ammunition clips (17 shots each)
• 1 Kalashnikov Saiga 12K combat shotgun
• 1 boxes of shotgun ammunition (1d20+20 shots)
• 1 fragmentation grenade
• 2 CS gas grenades
Agents might well find a use for all this hardware if
they’re downstairs when the rebels attack.
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
 15
4F. Equipment Storage: This room is secured with a stout
lock requiring a successful Open Lock check (DC 18) to
bypass. Within are shelves containing miscellaneous equip-
ment the guards don’t typically carry, as follows.
• 6 batons
• 8 kevlar vests
• 2 gas masks
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
4G. Guard Barracks: This bedroom houses six of the twelve
guards living in the manor. They sleep in bunk beds, with
lockers at the end of each to store personal effects. None
of these personal effects are of use to the agents. No NPCs
enter this room during the gala.
4H. Heavy Arms Storage: This room is secured with a stout
lock requiring a successful Open Lock check (DC 20) to
bypass. Within is the heavy military gear that Stratovich
plans to sell off to the highest bidder. The weapons are stored
in unlocked crates stacked against the walls. The crates con-
tain the following.
• 2 Russian Arsenal LPO-50 flamethrowers
• 2 refill canisters of flamethrower fuel
• 2 Tula KBP GM-94 grenade launchers
• 1d6+2 impact fragmentation grenades
• 1d10+2 flechette grenades
• 1 RFAS RPG-27 Tavolga rocket launcher
• 1d4+1 105mm HEAT rockets
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
4I. Hallway/Guard Station: Two guards are stationed at the
northern end of this hallway, instructed to remain on alert for
any unauthorized visitors. When anyone enters this area, the
guards first order for them to stop and direct them to return
upstairs. If this order isn’t immediately obeyed, the guards
draw their weapons and threaten to open fire. The guards are
overly confident, and don’t call for assistance unless combat
turns against them. Unless the alarm is raised, no NPCs enter
this room during the gala.
4J. Machinery Storage: This unlocked room is cluttered
with tables and machinery, as Stratovich and his guards test
and maintain their stolen equipment. A small test-firing
range is set up along the eastern wall for use with some of
the small caliber armaments. By the evening of the gala, all
weapons have been removed from this location. No NPCs
enter this room during the gala.
4K. Weapons Lab: This room is locked with an electronic
keypad, to which only Stratovich knows the code. The lock is
extremely well crafted, requiring a successful Electronics check
(DC 20) to bypass, and the door is made of heavy steel (it has
a hardness of 15 with 50 wound points and a Break DC of 30).
16
Within the room are several disassembled weapons parts,
and large binders containing notes regarding the design and
creation of chemical and biological distribution systems.
It should be clear to visiting agents that Stratovich is not
only intent upon selling the CDMAS, but also wishes to
mass-produce it. Along the southern wall is another heavy
steel door (see above for statistics).
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
4L. Vault: This room is locked with an electronic keypad,
to which only Stratovich knows the code (this code is differ-
ent from location #4K). The lock is extremely well crafted,
requiring a successful Electronics check (DC 20) to bypass,
and the door is made of heavy steel (it has a hardness of 15
with 50 wound points and a Break DC of 30).
The CDMAS is found here, sitting on a large and extreme-
ly sturdy table coated with aluminum (hardness 7 if the
agents decide to use it as cover). As described in the agents’
briefing packet, the CDMAS is a series of steel canisters
fastened to a heavy mounting harness. The device is com-
pletely harmless, and easily destroyed beyond repair with
a successful Electronics or Mechanics check (DC 10).
No NPCs enter this room during the gala.
Threats
Guards are positioned in key areas throughout the manor
(see the map key descriptions on page 10-17).
Manor Guards, 2nd-level minions (minions, squads of 2, 12 in
all – 23 MP). CR 2. SZ M; v/wp 16/14; Init +3 (+2 class, +1 Dex),
Spd 30 ft.; Def 12 (+1 class, +1 Dex); Atk: Glock 18 +3 (1d10+1);
Face 1 square; Reach 1 square; SA None; SQ None; SV Fort +3, Ref
+3, Will +1; Str 11, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10; Skills:
Balance +4, Driver +3, First Aid +3, Intimidate +3/+2, Jump +2,
Sense Motive +2, Spot +4, Tumble +4. Feats: Point Blank Shot.
Gear: Weapon, average clothes. Gadgets and Vehicles: None.
Stratovich is on site as well, though he only enters com-
bat if he’s reasonably certain he can win.
Ivan Stratovich, 4th-level soldier (mastermind – 20 MP). CR 4.
SZ M; v/wp 42/12; Init +5 (+3 class, +2 Dex), Spd 30 ft.; Def 14 (+2
class, +2 Dex); Atk: Glock 22 +7 (1d8+2); Face 1 square; Reach 1
square; SA per class; SQ per class, Damage Resistance 1/–; SV Fort
+5, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 11, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10;
Skills: Balance +5, Climb +2, Cultures +2, Diplomacy +2, Driver +6,
First Aid +3, Intimidate +2/+2, Jump +2, Knowledge (Art) +1, Spot
+4, Tumble +5. Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Sharp-
Shooting, Weapon Focus (Glock 22). Gear: Weapon, dress uniform.
Gadgets and Vehicles: None.
Events
Once inside the manor, any loud noise, including gunfire,
immediately draws the guards’ attention. Within 1d3 min-
utes, every guard on a particular floor arrives to investigate.
Half the remaining guards (rounding down) arrive 1d4 min-
utes thereafter. The guards are distributed as follows.
 17
Ground Floor: 6 guards (2 at location #1A, 4 patrolling
in pairs).
Second Floor: No guards.
Third Floor: 2 guards (at location #3E).
Basement: 4 guards (2 at location #4I, 2 patrolling).
The manor guards are instructed to avoid gunfire (so as
not to spook the guests), but if they see firearms, they don’t
hesitate to shoot first. Unless the agents are careful, the situ-
ation may very well escalate out of their control rather
quickly. The GC is provided with one powerful tool to quell
open hostilities — for a time, at least — in the form of the
rebel attackers (see page 19).
Rewards
Keep track of the agents’ accomplishments throughout this
scene and reward them with the following XP at the serial’s
end accordingly.
Note: Experience is not rewarded until the serial’s end, and
agents may not gain levels during a serial.
• Destroying the CDMAS: 150 xp per agent
• Destroying the files on Stratovich’s computers: 100 per agent
• Destroying the material in the weapons lab: 75 per agent
• Killing one or more of the manor guards: 25 xp per agent
• Capturing one or more of the manor guards: 50 xp per agent
• Completing primary mission without combat: 100 per agent
Development
If the agents destroy the CDMAS (and potentially the files
in Stratovich’s office) before the rebel attack, the team likely
attempts to leave the party. The GC has two options at this
point. If there’s time enough left in the round, he can move
the rebel attack up to just before the agents make it out of
the manor. In this case, proceed to Scene 3.
Scene Three:
Party Crashers
Agent Description
At 10:30 pm, during dinner, the Chechnyan rebels storm
the gates and attack the manor. The battle is quick and
brutal, as the manor guards are greatly outgunned. After one
minute (10 rounds), the gunfire ceases and the rebels storm
into the manor, quickly ordering the guests into the dining
room, where they make their demands known.
Read the following to the players as the rebels approach
the manor house.
The chatter of gunfire and high shouts are heard outside the
manor house. The guests look around nervously as panic sets
in. A few moments later, guards race toward the building’s
entrance, pushing the doors open and rushing outside.
Gunfire erupts once more, then dies, and all is silent.
18
Through the open doorway, four figures storm into the
manor. Dressed in fatigues and carrying heavy assault rifles,
the men rush in, shouting for the guests to move into the
dining room.
GC Description
Should the agents play along, continue with the following
text:
As the last of the guests are rounded up, one of the soldiers
steps forward to speak. The others keep their rifles at the
ready.
“We are holding this manor hostage,” the attacker says, “until
our brethren are freed from their unjust captivity!”
The rebels refuse to speak with anyone. They treat the
hostages well, and do not attack unless provoked.
After an hour, one of the rebels inside the manor sets up a
video camera and films the hostages, then records a message
for the undisclosed nation in possession the rebels’ allies.
Should the agents do nothing through all of this, the Agency
launches a counter-assault shortly before dawn the following
morning, taking out both rebels outside. Should the agents
still do nothing, an Agency strike team — disguised as a para-
military unit sent by an unidentified European action force —
breaks in through the manor’s front doors 10 rounds later.
This team takes out the rebels with only minimal casualties
(per the GC’s discretion, not including the agents).
Threats
Two of the rebels remain in the dining room guarding the
hostages. The other two roam the manor grounds outside,
watching for reprisal. The primary reason that these rebels
pose a threat is their weaponry — even in the hands of low-
level characters, assault rifles are formidable weapons.
Chechnyan Rebels, 2nd-level minions (minions, squads
of 2, 4 in all – 6 MP). CR 2. SZ M; v/wp 11/10; Init +3 (+2 class,
+1 Dex), Spd 30 ft.; Def 12 (+1 class, +1 Dex); Atk: Kalashnikov
AK-47 +2 (3d6); Face 1 square; Reach 1 square; SA None; SQ None;
SV Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1; Str 11, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12,
Cha 10; Skills: Balance +4, Climb +2, Driver +5, First Aid +3,
Intimidate +2/+2, Jump +2, Spot +4, Tumble +3. Feats: None.
Gear: Weapon.
Events
If the agents attack the rebels, they immediately draw fire
from all rebels present, who attempt to also sound an alarm
via radio. Thereafter, the other rebels arrive in 1d10+2
rounds.
 19
If the agents overcome the rebels, Stratovich is caught
between a rock and a hard place. He knows the agents aren’t
who they say they are, but isn’t in a position to interrogate
them without losing what little rapport he’s gained with his
guests. Likewise, the agents are unable to take Stratovich into
custody, lest their actions draw unwanted attention to the
Agency. The agents are allowed to leave without incident,
knowing that they haven’t seen the last of Ivan Stratovich.
Rewards
Keep track of the agents’ accomplishments throughout this
scene and reward them with the following XP at the serial’s
end accordingly.
Note: Experience is not rewarded until the serial’s end, and
agents may not gain levels during a serial.
• Overcoming the rebels: 75 xp per agent
• Overcoming the rebels after the video transmission goes out: 50 xp
per agent
• Overcoming the rebels after the first Agency strike: 25 xp per agent
• Allowing the Agency strike team to take out all the rebels: 0 xp
per agent
• Escaping the manor without attracting attention: 100 xp per agent
Debriefing
This mission’s primary goal is the destruction of the
CDMAS and all linked documentation. If the agents are
successful in this goal, Control congratulates the team on
their espionage and sabotage skills. Reward an additional
200 xp to each agent.
If the agents break their cover or make their presence
known to Ivan Stratovich or the guests, Control informs the
team that extensive resources must be expended to cover the
Agency’s trail. Reward an additional 100 xp to each agent.
If the agents had to be rescued by the Agency strike team,
Control gives them a firm tongue lashing — and a week off
“anywhere I don’t have to look at you.” Reward no addition-
al xp to each agent.
If there’s extra time, feel free to roleplay the debriefing
and have Control assess the group’s performance. Then have
the players fill out their RPGA forms and wrap up the
session.
20
The Open Game License
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards
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Open Game License v1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc. System Rules
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 21 22

0 5 10 20

Stratovich
GC Map
Manor Scale in Feet

Ground Floor Second Floor

1D 1J
1C

2A 2B 2C
Stairs
1F Up to
1L 3rd Floor
1K
Stairs 1E
Up to
2nd Floor
2G
Stairs
1B Down to
1H 1N Ground
Floor

2D 2F
1G 1M
2E

1I 1A 1O

Trapdoor to Basement

4I 4H

4G 4J
3A 3B 3C
Stairs
Down to
2nd 4F
Floor

3G 4K
4D
4E

3D 3F

3E
4A 4C 4L
4B

Stairs Up to Ground Floor

Third floor Basement

 23 24

Stratovich Manor
0 5 10 20

N Player Handout Scale in Feet

Ground Floor Second Floor

Dining
Library
Room Ballroom
Bedroom
Bedroom Bedroom

Unknown
Main
Hall
Bedroom Bedroom
Bedroom

Entryway

Third Floor

Waiting
Room
Bedroom Bedroom

Media Library
Room Parlor