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ISBN: 978-3-949547-02-7
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 NOW AS HOPE AND GLORY DI E S
W E ' L L S C R E A M AT O U R D E M I S E

ARE WE LOST F O R E V E R MORE

[ PA R A D I S E L O S T ]

MARKO DJURDJEVIC & LIAM FOLEY

 FATA L
C AT C H
BREAKDOWN The latest gossip is spreading through Justitian, passed from drunk mouth to hungover
The following adventure is broken down ear and back again, concerning the events that took place in the Cross Quarter just a
into two booklets. LEX TALIONIS fea- few days ago. It all started when a brawl of unprecedented proportions broke out on
tures the events of the story as they un- Banding Hill – that’s where all those fancy Anabaptists go to get drunk, they’re too
fold, introducing the Players to the plot, good for us bums slumming it in the Outskirts – which ended up getting so bad that
and driving them toward the climax in even the quarter’s guards got pulled into the fray.
Act 3. The second booklet THE ROT- From there, it didn’t take long for Judges to get dragged into the mix. They sent
TEN FEW details the backstories of the a full cavalry squad and then some down there to break it all up in the usual fashion,
main antagonist, Zeno Blackheart, and hammers and all. Blood, broken noses, shattered bones, you name it. Everything got
his elite entourage of lethal operatives, all tangled up, lots of wounded, and the entire section of the Cross Quarter got locked
important information on their plans, off for a good few hours. There’s even some talk of Executioners getting off their high
and additional plotlines for the scenario. horses and wading in – that’s whatcha call a full on Judge raid, if I ever heard of one.
LEX TALIONIS has purposefully Of course, no one is talking about it too openly, because the Protectors went around
been designed with a more open ending, ordering people to stay quiet, passing out Drafts by the handful. I only caught the story
allowing the GM to base the outcome because one Ascetic I know used the damn money on some of that quality Brenni beer
of the adventure on the actions of the down in the Stukov, although that’s getting off topic.
Players, cut it short or extend it to their After that, the floppy hats dragged a whole bunch of serious offenders off to the
own liking, and leaving enough room for Cleft, masked with hoods so no one could tell if they were Broken Cross or something
follow up missions and further secrets to else, and that’s that. I don’t know much else, and even if I did, I hear there’s been some
be revealed. Protectors goin’ about and listening in on conversations to make sure no one talks
about the ruffle, and you can’t get me boozed up enough to risk another stint in the
Cleft. So anyway, about that drink…

SUBSOCIAL RUMBLING
The aftermath of the Judicial intervention in the Cross Quarter is still playing out
across the city. Despite their best efforts to stamp out the rumors and speculation,
word travels quickly, and the gossip blitzes up as fast as it can be quelled. It was bare-
ly an hour after the incident came to a close that the Cluster had Streamers sniffing
around in Judgement Hall to request information on the case, and it took a decree
from High Judge Exelor to get them to halt their incessant screeching. Every Judge
involved knows that won’t do a thing to stop the Chroniclers, but it at least saves them
from the headache.
More puzzling to those keeping track of the situation is the order from the Office
of Hygienics to pull the Spitalians from duty at the Knacker’s Office for the next three
days, leaving the work to be entirely supervised by the Judges and Defilers stationed
there. Later investigations will reveal a slew of official protests lodged by Elliot Heil-
kamp, head of the department, but authorities higher than his own made the call. The
number of people in Justitian with an understanding of the events is limited to only a
handful of Judges – and that’s just how they like it. After just under a week, the story
has been replaced by more pressing discussions, like the new Architect appointed by
Archot to handle his birthday celebrations, still months away. It’s time to execute the
second stage of their plan.

SIFTING FOR TRUTH

In the days following the Cross Quarter raid, many injured and limping Anabaptists
slowly trekked out of the Cleft, having slept off their hangover and agreed to pay the
fine for their drunken and riotous behavior. However, one cell in particular has been
 Pri so n er Transf er

LEX TALIONIS places a group of charac- Players to the deeper mysteries woven have positioned themselves against the
ters at the center of an interwoven net- throughout the characters and factions operatives of the Cluster – while the two
work of factions and parties of interest, in the story, with Zeno offering forbidden organizations aren’t directly antagonistic
in a high-tension, top-secret operation knowledge through words laced with poi- towards each other, there is no love lost
launched at the very heart of the Protec- son. Throughout the adventure, the group between the migratory birds and the tech-
torate. They must navigate through uncon- will come to realise that the biggest threat toads. This makes them suitable choices for
trolled hinterlands, following a plan passed facing them comes from their cargo. The the transfer mission.
down from above to the best of their abil- Acheron is a volatile and cunning entity, More favorable, though, is if the char-
ities, and react to an array of unexpected who will not hesitate to lie, cheat, and de- acters rescued Murdoch from his perilous
situations. They must stay on course against ceive without a shred of morality in order deployment in Watchtower 17N. He works
the odds, while resisting an insidious threat to escape from captivity in one piece. The from within the Judiciary, dropping the
trying to sabotage them from within. more his captors listen, the easier it will be names of his saviors to push them towards
The scenario is intended for a group to control them. suitable missions. Hakkal, meanwhile, con-
of experienced characters who have al- Additionally, LEX TALIONIS can seam- tinues his search for Senna all across the
ready established themselves in the re- lessly be tied back to the events of HARM'S Protectorate, eventually finding himself di-
gion. It can be used by Game Masters as WAY or LAST WATCH. By gaining an inroad rectly in the path of the characters – willing
an effective method to introduce their with the Carrion Birds, the characters will to offer his aid once again.

occupied since the event, say some of the former convicts want to use him for a trade. However, for the operation to
released over the last few days. Branded “High Security”, be conducted swiftly and without catching the Cluster’s at-
and watched by guards at all times, only a single prisoner tention, the Judges need to hire a group of people who have
was spotted inside. The identity of this solitary man is close little connection to the Cluster, who can be trusted, and
to unknown, leaving just a name whispered in the back who won’t ask too many questions.
streets of Downtown – “Zeno.” RECOMMENDED: If the characters have previously
Meanwhile, the Judges have been digging into their worked with the Judges and performed well, demonstrat-
supplies of horses and armored carriages, getting half a ing their loyalty and integrity, they will be contacted by a
dozen full units together, sending them out on seemingly plainclothes operative during their travels in Justitian. In
random journeys. Even some high-profile Protectors have particular, if they rescued Murdoch during the events of
been roped into the tasks, venturing out on what eventual- LAST WATCH, the Judges will have their eyes on the group.
ly is revealed to be mere busywork, something even a City ENEMY OF MY ENEMY: In accordance with the
Judge riding a donkey could handle, let alone a full sized old adage, the Judges start looking for the enemies of the
transport. This all comes to a head when the fifth cart is Chroniclers. Those who lurk in the shadows, who spit in
spotted galloping out of the Cleft in the late hours of a the face of the tech-toads, who hoard their artifacts, who
clear night, with someone identified as Executioner Vexi- pull down the megaphone poles; the ones who would nev-
call leading the transport. Destination: Ignatz. All of this is er give the Chroniclers a secret that could be an advantage.
a massive cover up for the sixth carriage, still awaiting its It’s a tenuous and uneasy relationship, but the Judges don’t
crew and ready to head out along the exact same path... have too many options.
UNEXPECTED: The characters are new in town, hav-
HUMAN RESOURCES en’t made too many waves yet, and the Chroniclers haven’t
The Judges must handle the transfer of Zeno to Ignatz in had time to sink their mechanical teeth into them – not
absolute secrecy, otherwise the Chroniclers will catch wind ideal, but they’ll do. They’ll be given only the barest of in-
of the operation and the whole setup will explode into a formation about Zeno, only that he’s a dangerous Anabap-
political frenzy – the technophiles will never tolerate such tist prisoner, with a commensurately greater reward to buy
a valuable prisoner being transferred without further in- their silence. The threat of hard time in the Cleft or an ig-
vestigation. They know the convict. What they don’t know noble end in one of Justitian’s alleyways will also help keep
is that he’s in the clutches of the Judiciary, and that they their lips sealed.

LEX TALIONIS 3
 EYE
FOR
EYE
S C E N E 1 : C L A N D E S T I N E C O N V E R S AT I O N S
In a more typical Judge operation at this level of secrecy, the instructions for the first
meeting would have been passed to the characters through a pair of dead drops, one
containing a code phrase which would be used to decipher the message in the other,
ensuring that any one leak doesn’t compromise the entire mission – but this is not a
typical Judge operation. The rapid pace that must be maintained to ensure Zeno has
no chance to escape and the Chroniclers don’t find out about the captive requires that
some corners are cut.
A Judge approaches the group while they’re going about their business in Justi-
tian, roughly barging into one of their number and pressing a note into their hand.
“Tonight, 2:00 AM, make sure you aren’t followed,” the Protector commands, before
slipping away into the crowd as just another figure masked by a leather coat and
hat. Unfolding the message, the character finds a simple address, leading to a small
warehouse in the Stukov Quarter. Once night falls over the city, and the glaring sun
is replaced with the dim glow of oil or electric lamps, it’s time for the party to meet
their employers.

T H E O R C H E S T R AT O R HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

The name Vexicall is a dogwhistle for the From the street entrance, the characters are ushered through into a cleared out space
Cluster, but the Tech Cult isn’t the only in the center of the warehouse. Standing in a pool of light from an overhead lamp,
faction that will perk up at the mention a small group of brown-coated Judges are gathered around a map spread out on a
of the legendary Executioner. He has tak- table, engaged in heated conversation. As the newcomers approach, one of the law-
en part in operations all across the Pro- men breaks out of focus and takes notice of them. His face is covered in extensive
tectorate, brought infamous criminals to pockmarks – remnants of a chemical attack, or just acne scars? With a scrutinizing
justice, and exposed secret conspiracies gaze he pierces through the assembled characters, evaluating them. Regardless of his
by the truckload. An INT+Legends (2) roll internal opinion, he lets out a grunt, “No turning back now. Kerrigan, Protector, and
from one of the characters, or a copy of the one in charge of you lot. Welcome aboard. Don’t bother introducing yourselves,
a recent edition of the Righteous Ham- I know who you are and it’s best to not use names too liberally. Step up, I’ll get you
mer, is enough to remember one of his up to speed.”
latest exploits: tracking down and de- The Protector brings the characters around the table, revealing the map to be a
stroying a Liqua-based smuggling oper- detailed outline of the road to Ignatz, with various symbols, lines, and notes scrawled
ation working out of Fielding, in the pro- directly onto the paper. The focus of these notes is where the outline of the Rubble
cess recovering several dozen kilograms is marked, a series of crudely drawn barcodes obviously indicating Chronicler pres-
of high explosive compound supposedly ence. “Right, here’s the deal.” Kerrigan points to a small wooden block, carved into
mixed by Brenni Toxicians. The intended the shape of a horse. “This is you. You’ll be transporting a prisoner in an armored
use for the payloads remains unknown. carriage from the Cleft to Ignatz. Don’t ask too much about the package, he used to
be in league with the Broken Cross and he’s extremely valuable to them, that’s all you
need to know for now. I’ll be sending a coachman to handle the horses, you’re needed
for protection and as a contingency.” Next, he stabs his finger at a wooden hammer
further along the road. “That’s us. The Judge at the top of this operation, Execution-
er Vexicall, and a few of our best are riding ahead in an identical carriage to yours.
They’re already about eight hours ahead. They’ll draw the attention of any techies up
late to watch their cameras. Compared to them, you’re less interesting than a bug on
their screen – no offense.”
The group’s attention is drawn to a Chronicler symbol right at the edge of the Rub-
ble. “This is the last cargo inspection station in the Rubble, and it’s where we expect
the most focus to be on you. The carriage is armored, enough that the normal scan-
ners used there won’t be able to pick up anything inside, let up until he has a satisfactory answer. The situation is
so all you have to do is keep a straight face and say you’re delicate. The Observer will collect their identities, which
transporting a convict to Ferropol to be exiled. Come up in turn can compromise the outcome of their current af-
with a fake name for the guy if you get pressed on it, but fairs. That’s not good. The characters have to act quick,
it’s a typical enough answer. After that, the journey should and come up with a series of convincing arguments, or the
be a breeze.” Kerrigan claps a character on the shoulder Observer will be able to either sense a classified operation
and cracks a twisted smirk, “Alright, ready to get going? No going on, or pinpoint them later on. While showing the
time to waste.” He passes them a radio handset, “This is Judiciary-branded pass will grant them the right to leave,
how you’ll keep in touch with Vexicall,” along with a small suspicious behaviour will risk tipping the Cluster off to the
paper document marked with an Uptown seal, “and this is mission being carried out under their mechanical noses,
how you get to the Cleft. Special permits to move around at and potentially invite a follow-up investigation carried
night. Keep them, part of your payment. Now, run along.” out at the end of a Shocker. In order to sufficiently excuse
their presence, the characters must engage in a Complex
EMPTY STREETS Action of PSY+Cunning or Deception (15), with either Skill
Time to move. The characters exit from the warehouse onto contributing to the total number of Successes. After the
the street, armed with their night pass and a few whispered Observer is satisfied, the group can extricate themselves
directions to the Cleft. “Head south, go through the Fore- from the interview and continue on to the Cleft.
court, then along the Niniver Stallion Street for about twen-
ty minutes. The password is “Unbroken Cross.” Got it?” RENDEZVOUS
Justitian’s central neighborhood at night is a very The time is 4:30 AM, “CARPE DIEM” reads the ponderous
different place. Gone are the bustling crowds filling the steel gate of the Cleft, as the characters arrive at the begin-
streets, silent are the looming megaphones broadcasting ning of their journey. Ahead, the armored carriage that will
the Cluster’s decrees, and empty are the platforms of the carry them to Ignatz is ready for transport. Coming clos-
Peace Walk passing overhead. The buildings of the Stukov er, their footsteps alert the silhouette hunched over at the
Quarter rise up on either side of the winding streets, dark driver’s bench. A bob of red hair appears underneath the
shadows only occasionally illuminated by lamplight. The hat, followed by a square face, freckles, and a pair of round,
city appears muted, with only occasional shouts from oth- hazel-colored eyes squinting through the murky darkness.
er streets or loud metallic clangs from unknown sources “Hey, are y’all the hired guns I’m waiting for?” the figure
breaking through to elevate the tension. As the characters asks, revealing herself with the voice of a young girl. “Or,
approach the edge of the Stukov Quarter, facing out onto hold on, I mean, what’s the password?”
the cleared expanse of the Forecourt – itself an unusual This is Dea, one of Kerrigan’s Vagrants, assigned to steer
sight, the biggest market in Europe left unattended – they the armored carriage. She’s on the cusp of her promotion to
are stopped by a tired looking Protector. A single wave of City Judge, in her late teens, and is fully capable of handling
the special permit is enough for them to be ushered on the six tall horses harnessed at the front of the vehicle by
through, allowing them to weave their way through the herself, but she’s inexperienced with most other matters.
emptied out stalls and deserted alleyways of the open plaza. Fighting? Not her thing. “Would one of you mind sitting
On the far side of the Forecourt, they finally enter the up and riding shotgun? Just in case something goes awry,
swept Stallion Street. However, a sudden electronic hiss right?” she asks with an innocent smirk across her cheeks.
interrupts their nightly march, as a pair of green lenses One character can saddle up next to her while the rest of the
iris open above them. A mechanical arm juts out from a party must clamber into the main cab, looking out through
base mounted to a wall, with a pedestal at its tip allow- the armored slats on the sides to spot incoming threats or
ing a figure to crouch there and look down at those pass- dangers. Inside, their cargo is already waiting.
ing below. The arm begins to descend, and the cloaked, Against the far corner of the cabin, with shackles linking
masked Chronicler barks a command at the characters – his wrists to the floor, sits the prisoner. His hulking frame
“TRAVELING AFTER CURFEW! STATE NAME AND is clad in faded convict’s rags, ripped and torn, but the most
PURPOSE!” An Observer has them in his sights, and won’t prominent feature is the bizarre mask clutching his head:

LEX TALIONIS 7
a thick, iron helmet featuring only thin slits to allow the via a roll of INT+Legends (3), with Jehammedans or Ana-
wearer to see. A pair of blue eyes suddenly open, locking on baptists adding +2D. Success brings the knowledge that he
to the first character to enter. With a piercing and intense was a potent figure from the Adriatic Wars, although his
glare, accompanied by a faint rattle, he takes in every char- exploits were far from public knowledge, while (2) or more
acter head to toe. The prisoner remains silent, but slowly Triggers will reveal that he was a renowned and brutal
bobs his head to the side to point the characters towards terrorist deployed far behind enemy lines. He will also be
something. Pinned to the wall next to him is a paper note, sharing the cramped cabin with the characters for at least
which contains additional instructions for the characters the next day. Comforting.
on their journey, stamped with Vexicall’s seal. Finally, the paper presents the protocol for the charac-
ters on their journey to Ignatz, along with a crude copy of
WORD OF GOD their path.
The paper sheet is handwritten in scratchy, hurried script,
and begins with a recap of the information that Kerrigan a Don’t draw attention to yourself, appear as normal as
passed down to the characters already – Vexicall and his possible.
elite squad are riding 8 hours ahead with a decoy to draw
the attention of the Chroniclers away from the no-names a Don’t hurt, torture, or otherwise harm the prisoner.
transporting the true cargo. The radio the characters now He must make it to Ignatz in one piece, or the deal will
possess is tuned to an encrypted channel that the Cluster is be off.
still unaware of, and will be used for check ins after the car-
riage is underway. However, it must be destroyed within 48 a Don’t remove the prisoner’s mask. Don’t sniff around
hours, or the Chroniclers will be able to detect the transmis- and try to interrogate him either. He’s a dangerous
sions and triangulate their position within the Protectorate. man, and shouldn’t be allowed to speak. If he needs
Most critically, though, is the information on the prisoner. anything, he has been instructed to tap his foot on the
The characters are given the name of their charge; Zeno floor three times. Remove his mouth gag if he needs
Blackheart. Just from the name alone, it’s possible for char- food or water – it’s up to you whether you permit him
acters with a rating in Secrets of at least (3) to identify him to talk after that.
a Your horses won’t last the entire way at full pace, so you’ll be swapping them at
Grifter’s Rock, on the way and marked on your map. You must keep on schedule
and travel through the night to reach Ignatz in the morning of the day after to-
morrow, this is non-negotiable. Do everything in your power to move as quickly
as possible, as your safety along the Fortified Road cannot be guaranteed.

a Memorize these points and destroy this paper at your earliest convenience.

SCENE 2: NIGHT TRANSIT

Inside the cab, doors closed, Dea urges the horses into motion, directing them back
out onto the Stallion Street. The route out of the city is simple, but far from short;
the carriage must travel directly through the Jehammedan Quarter in order to reach
the southbound Fortified Road towards Cathedral City, which will be their home for
the next 24 hours as they make their way to Ignatz. The wide boulevard is empty save
for their carriage, so Dea can make good progress, slowly opening up to the character
riding shotgun with idle chit-chat and probing gossip. “You know, Kerrigan calls me
Pumpkin, and I mean I kinda get it because of the hair but it’s not even the same kind
of orange, and I keep it all bunched up in my hat anyway…” the young Vagrant rattles
on. “How’d y’all sign up for this? Known each other before? Yeah, damn crazy times!
This is my first transport, but I’ve been coaching since four years already. Love me
some horses! Did y’all hear about what happened at that watchtower down by Siege a
few months ago?”
Meanwhile, in the cabin, the ponderous presence of Zeno looms over the passen-
gers like a thick blanket, the Anabaptist seemingly able to smother any conversation
with nothing but the slight shuffling of his feet, or readjusting himself on the wooden
bench. A sharp contrast.
Fifteen minutes later, and the cart passes through the Southern Gate, reaching
the entry to the Jehammedan Quarter. It’s only barely past 5 AM, but the district is
already buzzing with life. Sounds of prayers travel through the air, people are rushing
to attend their morning rituals. Pumpkin angles the horses into the narrowing path,
yet navigates into even more traffic. The inhabitants don’t keep to the sidewalks, in-
stead spilling over into the open road, workers crossing the path of the carriage, Abra-
mi kneeling to pray where they shouldn’t, and herds of animals being led across the LOCAL CONNECTION
streets. No compliance at all. The horses are shying, at risk of running into an ignorant If a Jehammedan is among the characters
Ismaeli darting in front of their hooves. Pumpkin tries to shoo the trespassers away they can aid Pumpkin in bringing some
with a half-baked “Pass aside, Judges coming through!” but the only thing she receives calm into the atmosphere. The problem
in return is mocking looks, along with one particularly aggressive Jehammedan spit- is simple, there is no respect for the Judi-
ting in her direction at the sound of her command. One can tell without much effort ciary down here, nor can the entourage
that the Jehammedans don’t appreciate Judges, and female figures of authority even rely on heavy Protector backup this far
less so. They’re stuck, and surrounded by the belligerent natives of the district. Not south. Most of the district is under the
a great start. A character needs to stand up on the drivers bench and start asserting watchful eye of its own neighborhood
dominance, with a PSY+Domination or CHA+Expression (2) roll, yelling and com- militia. Better to try and soothe tempers
manding the ragtag Jehammedans to clear the Stallion Street. The situation remains by acting friendly; aggressive or over-
heated, although the Street slowly begins to clear up. bearing behaviour from a Judge could
Looking out into the streets, it’s possible to start to notice a pattern. Moving easily escalate the situation into a riot.
through the crowds, hustling to-and-fro with urgency, young men are purposefully In that case, Pumpkin would have to fire
striding ahead with sword-shaped bundles hanging from their belts. An INS+Orien- a flare gun to scramble squad support
teering (2) roll will let a character deduce their approximate destination: the House from the Southern Wall, something she’d
of War, in the west of the district. Something is off, but the characters were reassured only do as a last resort. She knows how
that the only concern on their mission is the Chroniclers, so nothing to be worried important it is to stay on schedule, and
about – for now. remain incognito.

LEX TALIONIS 9
 MUSINGS
If the chaotic and tumultuous scene outside the cart wasn’t enough, the tense atmo-
sphere within the cabin is suddenly broken by three firm taps on the floor – the signal
that Zeno needs something. His eyes glint beneath the mask, focussing on whoever is
sitting across from him. With the gag removed, he doesn’t speak for a few moments,
as if preparing his words. Anticipation hangs thick in the air. “Water, please.”
The relief is subtle, but palpable, the request can be granted just by passing the
metal water canteen stored under the opposite bench over to him. Although he’s
chained, he can move his hands and bring the water container to his mouth. Glug.
Glug. Glug. As he passes the flask back, Zeno looks out at the Jehammedans. “Isn’t it
fitting how they are so close to their animals? They haven’t developed much further,
after all.” He takes a deep, almost melancholic sigh. “What else could one use to de-
scribe a tribe that chains their women to their stables. Animals. Beasts. Do they really
deserve to live amongst civilized humans?” he asks, as he swings back toward the
characters. “I remember coming across one of their campsites once. I found sisters
being married to their brothers, daughters to their fathers, sibling bedding sibling.
Whether you believe in God or not, man was not created to commit to such sins.”
Nodding up to the driver’s seat, he follows up with another cynical remark. “Have
you realised why they don’t respect your driver? In their mind, she’s nothing but
breeding stock. If it wasn’t for you, they’d pull her off the coach, drag her into a barn,
and have their way with her. But they wouldn’t kill her, instead they’d let her live,
scarred, brutalized, so she can forever remember the moment when she was defense-
less and in their clutches.” With his message uttered, he trails off, staring out of the
window. Under the mask, his expression is unreadable.

SCENE 3: LAST STOP –

T H E O B S E R V AT I O N S TAT I O N
I N T E R FA C E M AT C H As soon as the party enters the Rubble, the carriage starts to make headway, eating
While the Judiciary is extremely unlike- the distance in full gallop. The southern part of these farmlands belong almost ex-
ly to trust a Chronicler with transport- clusively to Jehammedan tribesmen, who arrived here during the second and third
ing Zeno to Ignatz, it’s not impossible wave of settlement some thirty years ago. The plains are dotted with ranches and
– whether through the use of extreme stables, barely lit by the faint morning sun. Campsites, tent cities, and large, fenced
leverage like blackmail material, or by off masting farms fly by as Pumpkin steers the carriage through the deserted path-
finding a technophile particularly dis- ways ahead.
posed to acting to spite his own Cult. At the terminus of each Funnel Road, where the Rubble gives way to the greater
Regardless, if the carriage contains a Protectorate, the Chroniclers established inspection Alcoves intended to monitor
Chronicler, or someone in the guise of the traffic to and from Justitian, feeding the information into the bottomless pits of
one, the interrogation at Alcove S-3 will their data stores to fuel the Static Stream’s calculations. As with any point of inter-
play out far differently. With little more est, people began to gather, put down roots, clump up, and now each Alcove sprouts
than a show of their mask, and “Opera- its own small town clinging to it like barnacles at the bottom of a ship. The Cluster
tion is Cluster-approved, expedite pas- doesn’t care so long as they don’t impede traffic – Obstruction Detected, Data Flow
sage!” the inspecting Agent gives up his Altered, Disperse!
interrogation. However, this comes with Such a settlement is directly ahead of the cart, a hamlet-sized cluster of buildings
its own dangers: when the Chronicler centered around and taking its name from Alcove S-3. From Kerrigan’s talk, this is ex-
returns to a terminal and finds that no pected to be the most significant obstacle faced on the characters’ journey. Closer in,
such action was sanctioned by the Clus- the actual Alcove reveals itself, a black cube fortified with metal walls that stands out
ter, alarm bells will begin to ring. from the typical rusted scrap and flaxen structures like a sore thumb. Several cloaked
Chroniclers stand outside at the side of the road, near a bench stacked high with
technical equipment – a quick glance and a roll of INT+Artifact Lore (2) confirms it
as a large scanning device. If Kerrigan was telling the truth, it should be ineffective on
the carriage, but there’s only one way to find out.
One of the Agents steps forth. He doesn’t provide any identification as the car-
riage rolls to a stop in front of its station, simply barking orders through his overload-
ed Vocoder “State name, destination, and purpose!”
Pumpkin, unused to the harsh and direct question, struggles to stammer out a
fumbled excuse. All that’s needed is for the character riding shotgun to butt into the
conversation with the story prepared previously by Kerrigan, “Low level exile transfer,
we’re dumping him in Ferropol, and making sure he doesn’t come back,” or another
suitable reason for a Judiciary carriage with an unknown prisoner inside, and wave an
official looking document. But the Agent isn’t satisfied. He circles the carriage, look-
ing underneath, inspecting the spokes, the wheels, brushing along the outer cladding
with his Streamer Glove.
“Order: State logic why the exile is so valuable that he must be escorted in an
armored carriage.” He initiates his investigation. The characters seem to have run
into a very pedantic member of the cyberfrogs. Every answer he receives, he signs off
with a reply of “Insufficient!” He keeps on pestering the characters, as more and more
Agents surround the carriage, taking scans and samples.
“Order: State logic why the exile is guarded by so much auxiliary force.” The Agent
continues. The characters suddenly realize how hard pressed they are for answers.
“Query: Are the passengers registered Jurymen?” The barrage of questions doesn’t
ebb. “Query: Who is in charge of the vessel?”, “Query: Which office ordered the trans-
fer?”, “Query: Is the prisoner marked, or branded?”
He pushes forward, attempting to open the side door of the carriage, while the
other Agents frantically punch data into their portable interfaces. “Order: Step aside,
I want to take a look at the cargo!” The situation is tense. The characters need to force
his attention away from their transport, or he will continue with “Query: Why is the
prisoner masked?”

E L E C T R O N I C I N T E R R O G AT I O N
Every word, action, and mannerism in this moment is critical. The Judges and the
Chroniclers, despite their outward cooperation, each couldn’t trust the other Cult
less. The Agents manning this station must uncover some sort of answer for this
operation and categorize the reasons for the inconsistencies in the story, or a ded-
icated team of Streamers in the Cluster will immediately be put on high alert. In
order to bluff and connive their way through this inspection, the characters must
come together to construct a suitable cover story that explains all the cracks – and
Kerrigan’s blithe, bullshit excuse of an exile isn’t going to cut it. The problem? The
Agent is keenly watching them, giving absolutely no time for planning. Pumpkin is of
no help, paralysed by her first overtly hostile interaction with the technophiles. Time
to get to work.
The characters must succeed in a Cooperative Complex Action of CHA+Negotia-
tion, PSY+Cunning, and PSY+Deception, with a threshold of (35) Successes. Violence
is completely out of the question, even if the characters somehow managed to over-
power the Agents manning the Alcove, their faces would be plastered on every single
screen in Justitian – Embargo! Adios, previous life. Not to mention the catastrophic
political fallout of sanctioned Judicial operatives battering innocent Chroniclers in
some backwater town. FOLLOW UP
If the characters are unable to reach the threshold within 6 rolls, or any character The interaction between Pumpkin and
rolls more 1s than Successes, the Agent is tipped off that there’s a game afoot, but the Agent is curious, especially to the
is canny enough to know that simply arresting these mercenaries won’t reveal the characters who have only been recently
information the Cluster needs. With a coded burst of Vocoder static he calls off the inducted into the operation. If the young
other Chroniclers and bellows “Conclusion: Passage Permitted. Have a good day.” Vagrant is pressed on the matter, she
However, as he makes one final inspection of the carriage, he drives the nail-shaped fumbles while trying to avoid answer-
body of a transponder pin into a wooden beam on the frame. Unless a character suc- ing the question before finally sighing
ceeds a roll of INS+Perception (4) to spot the tiny, out-of-place fragment and then and acquiescing. “Last week, when the
subsequently deduces the origin, they’ll be broadcasting their location all the way out Protectors picked up our passenger,”
to Ignatz. she nods to the cabin, “in the raid on the
Just as the characters are preparing to get moving, the Agent turns back to them. Cross Quarter, they were also going after
“Query: Transport of Judiciary prisoner related to Cross Quarter raid, 6 days ago?” a group associated with him. They all got
Having recovered her wits, Pumpkin jumps in, “No, no, not related at all! Thank away though, and the word from up top
you!” Not allowing time for any further discussion, the Vagrant pushes the horses is that we’re not to even mention there
into motion, setting off into the greater Protectorate. As S-3 slips into the distance, was a raid, so…” She shrugs. “It’s not re-
along with the rest of the Rubble, Pumpkin lets out a sigh of relief. “Well, that was lated. That clear it up? I don’t know any-
pretty easy. Smooth sailing from here, right?” thing else myself, though, sorry!”

LEX TALIONIS 11
 TOOTH
FOR
TOOTH
OUT FOR A DRIVE “Vexicall here. Transport team, report in. Did you make it through the inspection in
With the armored cart supplied by the one piece? Over.” The radio Kerrigan handed to the characters buzzes, allowing who-
Judges, the 80km journey from Justitian ever is holding the device to answer the call.
to Ignatz will take place over the course “Is the prisoner unharmed?” follows immediately after. The characters can give
of 24 hours. The margins on the schedule Vexicall a run down of the events. He remains strict. “Don’t panic, you’ve made it
are tight, but not inflexible in order to ac- through. The most important thing right now is that nothing happens to your cargo,
commodate emergencies and delays – if understood?”
the characters drive the horses until they Then, after a short pause, he adds “You’re transporting a war criminal. The Bap-
collapse at the midway point, then re- tists want him back, in exchange for someone who’s pretty high on our own Most
place them and continue on in the same Wanted list. They won’t commit to the deal if you fail to get the bastard in your car-
fashion, they’ll arrive at Ignatz with four riage to them unscathed.” The Judge is terse, speaking in a clipped voice, demanding
hours to spare. A more standard pace, updates with no room for chatter. When sufficiently satisfied with the progress of the
allowing Pumpkin to handle the animals armored carriage, he signs off with “We’re about to enter Grifter’s Rock for a change
as she has been trained, will bring that of horses. The coast is clear on our end. Keep me posted on any developments.”
margin down to just one hour. With the The characters gradually continue to whip across the greater Protectorate, leav-
importance of the operation, along with ing the Rubble behind them. Settlements and hamlets become sparse, and the trade-
the inter-Cult significance of the prison- mark dusty red plain of West Borca begins to replace any semblance of farmland. The
er exchange, delays cannot be tolerated. Southern Road is fairly straight, and the landscape plain and featureless, allowing a
clear view far off ahead of them. Every few hundred meters, the transport passes a
pair of heavy stones functioning as markers, ensuring that travelers won’t lose their
way even if the beaten path is obscured by a dust storm – while also serving as a
reminder to any over-eager highwaymen or enthusiastic bandits that the Judges op-
erate on this road network. Not worth the trouble, find somewhere else to pillage!
The characters have overcome what they were told to expect as the greatest ob-
THE LEAK stacle on their journey, but they still have a long way ahead before they reach their
Vexicall’s initial warning given to the destination. Midday is approaching, and there’s no time to waste. In order to make
characters to avoid speaking to the pris- it to the rendezvous on time, in the morning of the next day, they must travel all the
oner is for more than just keeping se- way through the night, only stopping for a brief rest at a designated halfway point
crets buried. The Acheron is dangerous, where they will swap horses themselves – the sleepy, out of the way dwelling of Grift-
and from his years of training under the er’s Rock, a location so irrelevant and meaningless that it’s barely featured on larger
watch of the Broken Cross’ most skill- Protectorate maps.
ful operatives, along with indulging in
the silver blood of the Arianoi, he has
gained access to the memetic techniques S C E N E 1 : B A C K C H AT T E R
practiced by only a chosen few. His first Uneventful silence in the cabin as the window slats reveal little more than a fleeting
target was the Judge guarding his cell in smear of the plains passing by. That changes as Zeno suddenly breaks the stoic calm.
the Cleft. Over the course of his hours in Tock. Tock. Tock. He bangs his iron mask against the cabin wall, implying that he
incarceration, he subtly broke down the wants to speak. If allowed, he begins with a low voice, reverberating with zeal and
walls in the Protector's mind and over- awe. “You expired, Rebus, but in your last moments you opened the path for ascen-
rode his impulses. Now, without even sion. Bless your servant as he smites down those who soil your path, infuse him with
knowing it, the Judge is working to sabo- your Pneuma as he wracks the bodies and souls of the heretics, and grant forgiveness
tage the prisoner transfer. He has leaked in death to those who trespass against him. As it was, ever it shall be. Amen.” The
the destination of the armored carriage prisoner exhales a long rattle.
to Zeno’s pack, the Rotten Few, by writ- If the characters attempt to involve him in a conversation, he nods courteously,
ing it on a note and placing it in one of clasping his hands until the knuckles turn white. Every question asked is answered
their pre-established dead-drops, but not with a religious salvo. If the characters attempt to find out who he is, he states “I’m
even he is fully aware of which carriage a vessel of Rebus the Baptist, reborn and molded in his vision, a spirit of vengeance
truly holds the Acheron, leaving them to walking among mortals.” If they try to find out what got him imprisoned in the first
find out that on their own. place, he’ll let out a melancholic sigh. “Betrayal. The first sin. They taught me how
to sever the soul with a knife, and let oil seep into the this small?” she asks with glee. If the character riding shot-
wound. The blood of the fallen expanded my mind, and I gun doesn’t understand, she’ll elaborate. “Semper Salvano,
realized the River of Death claims us all. Then they called Supreme Judge. That Judgement stone ahead was the
me home, telling me the war is over,” he says, letting out borderline under his reign.” The landmark doesn’t look
a sharp breath. “But war never ends,” he whispers, as he like much; compared to the current vast territory under
leans back into the shadow, eyeing each character with- Archot’s control it seems almost pathetically constrained,
out a blink. but this territory was claimed over the bodies of thou-
“When you kill an Isaaki, you must tear the heart from sands of warriors of the Great Old Clans. There isn’t much
his chest to confirm it will beat no more, and when you time to reminisce, though. Pumpkin steers the transport
fell a Hagari, open up the womb to make sure there are no along a drawn out curve, circumventing a jutting rock for-
more offspring of the Ram hiding within.” Zeno’s eyes flare mation, before a lonely goat traverses the street in their
up as he depicts the atrocities as if they’re bedside stories, direction. As the armored carriage passes the lonely ani-
rambling on about how to survive in the wild feasting on mal, Zeno spots it from inside the cabin, fixating on it for
Jehammedan entrails, how to set fire to their villages and a split second, then suddenly turning his head towards the
bar everyone from escape, or how to drown their newborn characters, eyes wide, as if he just had an epiphany. If he’s
for being born of heathen blood. It’s pure, unhinged hor- gagged, he begins tapping the floor with his foot. Tap. Tap.
ror. Mental pressure is building up, forcing every listener Tap. Once allowed to speak, he stammers out a frantic
to roll Mental Defense (2) for as long as Zeno remains un- warning, “Ambush!”
gagged. Failure causes the loss of Ego Points equal to the Ambush? There is no one around as far as the eye can
number of 1s rolled. see – until the transport comes around the corner of the
Naturally, the characters will attempt to replace the rocky slope, and abruptly halts in front of a massive goat
gag, pushing it back in past Zeno’s teeth to keep him quiet. herd occupying the entire road, a carpet of fluffy white
However, should any of them make the attempt, the pris- creatures, blocking the way forward for a hundred meters
oner will launch into another prayer, or adapt his current or more. Zeno is on high alert. Meanwhile, Pumpkin looks
speech, and interweave it with the subliminal intonations out in confusion, trying to spot the shepherd who guides
of the Dictate protocol, commanding them to leave him these animals. “This stinks,” she says with squinted eyes,
ungagged. “You’re escorting me to meet my death. What “the Jehammedan Grazelands are to the east, not west.”
difference does it make if I speak, dear brother? Do plain Slowly she tries to steer the horses into the herd, to part
words worry you so much? And what if I change them, the first animals in the front, scanning the slope to her left.
what if I preach harmony and false truth?” In order to “May the blessings of the Last Prophet be upon you!” An
resist the protocol, the character must succeed a Mental old, bald, and white-bearded Abrami with a staff climbs
Defense with a Difficulty of (3), otherwise they will simply downhill, waving his arms.
abandon the action, developing an internally consistent “Move your damn animals, will ya!” Pumpkin yells
excuse for their line of thought – it’s really just him pray- back. “Yer blockin’ a Judge transfer!”
ing to himself, it would be unjust to block that, he’s no The Abrami draws large circles through the air with
doubt going to be executed in a few days, his ramblings his hands, trying to deescalate the situation. “No worries,
can be tolerated, and so on. child, I am guiding the animals from their spring grazing
fields to the summer patches, just keep moving slowly, the
goats will part.”
SCENE 2: ROADBLOCK “Fuck you very much!” Pumpkin sneers under her
There has been barely any traffic heading in the opposite breath, and pushes the carriage deeper into the furry ob-
direction for the past hour, only the occasional ramshackle stacle. Inside, Zeno’s breath is frantic and coming in sharp
settler wagon, or a lonely donkey rider in the distance. As bursts. Is he trying to manipulate the characters? Or does
the cart begins to enter a serpentine section of the road, he know something they don’t?
slowly climbing into hilly territory, a towering megalith
comes into sight. W O LV E S A M O N G S H E E P
“Semper’s Limit,” Pumpkin says. “Makin’ headway. We “Let me go!” Zeno yanks at the chains that hold him in
can check off that box on the map.” nodding to the charac- place. “I can save us!” he roars, staring down the closest
ter next to her. “Can you believe the Protectorate was once character. A successful roll on INS+Empathy (2) and any-

LEX TALIONIS 13
one inside the cabin will feel that the prisoner is certain of the side of the cart, smoldering liquid blasting through the
their impending doom. The armored carriage isn’t even a window slat, setting the carriage on fire.
third of the way through the herd, the bleating of the goats
filling the air with overwhelming white noise. The char- A R I E S ’ W R AT H
acter riding shotgun can’t even hear Pumpkin’s cussing. The characters are under fire. The attackers want to ruin
Anyone in the group not occupied with Zeno and spying the cart and kill the target inside. They take no prisoners.
through the window slats must roll INS+Perception (3) to This is a holy war. As Pumpkin and her companion struggle
notice a pearl-white, fist-sized orb hovering through the to regain vision and get the horses back under control, the
air at high velocity, catching up with the transport and Swords rush in to overwhelm their prey. One Jehammed-
then speeding away to the front. All of the sudden, a sear- an jumps onto the side and tears open the door, attempt-
ing white flash erupts right in front of the carriage. The ing to stab at the first victim with his dagger. Meanwhile,
characters within the cabin are unharmed, but the orb’s bowmen take aim shooting directly at the horses, trying to
flashbang attack causes bedlam. From one heartbeat to wound the animals and stop the carriage dead in its tracks.
the next the horses buckle and the goats panic, causing a “What the hell is happening?” Pumpkin cries as she
chaotic stampede in all directions, animals getting caught wrestles with the mounts. The character next to her can
under the wheels and being trampled under hooves. “I’m see a Sword diving out of cover just feet away from them,
fucking blind!” Pumpkin screams in sheer panic. If the hurling his sling. A rock shoots through the air and hits
character next to her failed to shield his eyes in time, he Pumpkin at her throat, her head snaps backwards, before
will also be without eyesight for the next (5) Rounds. swinging back into position, face contorted in pain from
“ARIANOI!” Zeno slams himself back into the cabin, the point blank hit. She’s spitting blood. There’s no choice
tugging at his chains until blood runs from his wrists, his for her but to hand the reins to her partner, while she fo-
whole body shaking in a frenzy. Pumpkin has lost control cuses on wheezing for air. The character taking over must
over the cart, and the carriage slams violently ahead. A steer the carriage under enormous pressure; the horses are
look outside reveals more than a dozen dark clad figures out of control and some of them are wounded. In order
rising from their hiding places within the frantic herd, to break through the herd and escape into open terrain,
some of them armed with bows and slings, others with where the trained mounts pulling the carriage can put
flaming bottles. Not a second later, a blazing explosive hits their legs to full use, he must spend (4) Rounds fully fo-
cused on urging them forward, forcing them to push the way, while the rest of the attackers will cast a flurry of pro-
goats aside and accelerate. The Swords aren’t far away, and jectiles from a safe distance in an attempt to knock the
three will immediately start slinging stones at any exposed transport off road at all costs. They refuse to return with-
targets from range, while the rest take (2) Rounds to wade out the head of the Acheron. This is their mission, and
through the white ocean to reach and climb the carriage. they’re willing to sacrifice their lives for it. The characters
For the characters inside, the battle isn’t easier. The are in mortal danger.
tumbling carriage eliminates any concept of secure foot-
ing and tosses the combatants around wildly. Everyone, H O LY F I R E
the Swords of Jehammed included, fights at (-3D) and must The first rank horses break through the borders of the
use at least one arm to hold onto a beam or frame of the goat herd; escape is within reach. Some of the Swords have
cart or risk being flung out of the cabin at high speed if already fallen behind, struggling to keep up with the ac-
they fail a BOD+Athletics (2) roll, tumbling to the ground celerating carriage. Unacceptable. But they had prepared
to take (4) Damage. However, from the movement of the for this. One of them anticipated their escape and bursts
vehicle, along with the elevated position over the Swords from a rocky hiding place, jumping up onto the side of the
below, all characters riding on the driver’s bench or fight- carriage and clinging on tight, pressing himself against the
ing from the cabin will gain an extra (+1) Passive Defense chassis. A moment passes, before the distinctive hiss of an
and +2D to all Active Defenses. explosive fuse cuts through the din of battle, and his cry
To add to the frenetic drama, the roof has caught fire, of “ARIES, BE MY GUIDE!” draws all focus his way. The
and gleaming hot streaks of burning liquid are pouring Ismaeli has a belt of explosives strapped around his waist,
through the wooden planks into the cabin. It takes (6) more than enough to eviscerate anyone in or on the cart!
Rounds to escape the roadblock and break through the There’s only a single Round on the fuse before the ex-
utterly manic goat herd – so long as the carriage doesn’t plosives detonate; death is only a breath away. The char-
flip over, and crash, whether through a Botch rolled by acters must do anything within their power to toss the
the character at the helm, or one of the mounts collapsing suicidal Jehammedan off the carriage and flee. The Sword
from its gashes. The Swords will deploy at least three as- can be attacked by anyone on the same side of the cart, and
sassins who will stop at nothing to enter the cart and kill will lose his grip if he takes more than (12) Damage before
Zeno on the spot, as well as anyone who stands in their the end of the Round – his only Action is to cling on tight,

LEX TALIONIS 15
B L I N D I N G D E AT H and he will not Actively Defend himself. Otherwise, a Cooperative Complex Action
The glinting orb spotted in the sky over of BOD+Force (8) from multiple characters will allow them to pry him away from the
the characters signals the arrival of Aries’ carriage and send him toppling down into the mass of goats.
Herald, Naraka. He can sense Zeno’s As the Sword is catapulted into the dust, his bombs ignite and erupt into a men-
presence through the Blood of Aries, acing fireball leaving black smog in the fleeing carriage’s wake. The detonation sends a
pulsating through the Acheron’s veins, shockwave through the carriage, rocking it back and forth, while a cloud of red viscera
and he is committed to punish him for erupts from the herd as dozens of goats meet their end. A glimpse at the terror disap-
his past atrocities. He sends his floating pearing behind the characters reveals the white orb, zapping out of the cloud, rushing
probe, Bhuta, to signal his warriors to after them, until it suddenly changes direction and disappears vertically into the sky.
initiate an attack. The only warning giv- The characters are left with only the uncomfortable sensation of being watched by
en of the oncoming flash is a glow ema- forces beyond their understanding.
nating from within the polished sphere,
a fraction of a second before it erupts A F T E R M AT H
– a PSY+Reaction (4) roll is just barely “They have risen to take my head” Zeno yells, as the horses spur along to bring every-
enough to spot it and move in time, look- one into safe distance. “You won’t even let me fight for my life, much less yours?” His
ing away, throwing up an arm, screwing voice is grim. “Can’t you see why I warned you? Can’t you understand what demons
one’s eyes shut. It’ll still leave a hazy glare we’re up against? This is the spawn you let live and breed among us, so it can befoul all
in the character’s vision, but at least he life on Earth!” he snarls, wickedly rolling his eyes back and forth.
can see. Otherwise, he receives a -4D Vi- Up on the coach Pumpkin clears her throat, her view darting across the landscape
sion penalty until the flash wears off. to make sure there is no second attack waiting. “We made it?” she asks, riled up, rub-
bing the place where she got hit by the projectile. The horses keep galloping for an-
THE HOST other kilometer, before they slowly settle back into a more natural walking pace as the
Naraka has assembled a group of fanat- adrenaline rush begins to dissipate and the passengers can finally let out a breath to
ical Swords from among his inner ech- ease their tension. There’s no time to be complacent, though; first, check up on Pump-
elon in the House of War. All of them kin and any other wounded, next inspect the damage to the cart and ensure it’s still
have been told the story of the Acheron’s operational, finally tend to any horses that were caught up in the attack.
blashphemous deeds, and all of them will The young Vagrant quickly waves off any attempts to help her out, beyond a cur-
happily give up their lives in order to de- sory inspection from anyone medically trained. “I, I think it’s fine, just a nasty hit to
liver the Last Prophet’s justice to such a the throat. I’ll have a few-” she breaks off for a moment, coughing, “bruises, but it looks
heretic. worse than it is I think. We gotta keep going, no time to delay more than we have.”
There isn’t time to press the issue – Grifter’s Rock awaits up ahead, and Pumpkin is
C O M B AT S TAT S right, the clock is ticking. The further they can get away from the attackers, the better.
INITIATIVE: 6D/12 Ego Points If any of the characters tries to inquire with Zeno about the ambush, he’ll sullenly
ATTACK: Scimitar, Melee 6D, reply, “What did you expect? They understand that I am alive, and as such I am their
Distance 1m, Damage 8; worst nightmare. They want to kill what is holy, so it doesn’t shine light on their own
a Sling, Projectiles 5D, filth and burn it away.”
Distance 5/15m, Damage 4; Taking stock of the damage, the characters can confirm that the cart is mostly
a Warbow, Projectiles 6D, intact. The Jehammedans didn’t have the heavy weaponry required to break through
Distance 10/40m, Damage 9; the heavy steel reinforcement, so while the carriage looks like it’s been through hell it-
a Explosive Bottles, Projectiles 6D, self, most of the damage is simply superficial charring from the fires, or some chipped
Distance 10/40, Damage 6, wheel spokes from wayward scimitar strikes. It’ll last long enough. The same is true
Fire Hazardous, Explosive, Special of the horses, some of whom sustained slashes and cuts to their flanks, but are still
DEFENSE: Passive 1; Melee active (Par- trudging forward – well trained indeed. They’ll make it to Grifter’s Rock, and that’s
ry), Melee 6D; Ranged Combat active, what matters.
Mobility 7D, Mental 6D
SPECIAL: Fervor: +2D to Mental Defense RADIO CHECK
when carrying out Naraka’s mission After escaping such an unexpected and targeted attack, sending a radio warning to
MOVEMENT: 5m Vexicall is the natural next step. However, when the characters report that they were
ARMOR: Reinforced cloth armor, Armor 2 ambushed by raging Swords, all they’re met with is confusion. “Say again, transport
CONDITION: 12 (Trauma: 5) team? Jehammedans? That’s not possible.” Only after repeated insistence, and a de-
scription of their garb and tattoos, does the Executioner accept the report. “That’s dif-
ficult to believe, but it can only mean we have a mole on the inside. There is no other
way for them to have gained intelligence of your cargo ahead of even the cyberfrogs.
What worries me more, the Jehammedans haven’t stepped out of line since the Colos-
sus incident. You must keep your eyes peeled. Not good, not good at all. Well done on
surviving. See you in Ignatz.”
Vexicall’s warning should be a clear indicator that there is more to this prisoner
transfer than the characters are currently aware of. Yet another reason to stay suspi-
cious and on edge.
SCENE 3: GRIFTER’S ROCK
The road forking off toward Ferropol lies behind them. An- The characters must use the break to replenish themselves,
other three hours have passed since the ambush, and the and change the horses. There is a small guesthouse that
sun has begun to set on the horizon. The horses are ex- seems to offer food and supplies. This sleepy inn serves
hausted, having slowed to a boring trot. “We’re close to the as little more than a waypoint for those regularly travel-
waypoint. Grifter’s Rock is over there” Pumpkin wheezes ing around in the southern reaches of the Protectorate.
hoarsely. Her face is pale, lips thin, the shock still sitting Following the outbreak of the Clan Wars, and the various
in her bones. She guides the carriage across a desolate and raids taking place along the nearby borders, this offbeat
patchy piece of road to a fenced off area, to the right of the locale has seen a significant shortfall in clientele. As such,
curb. In the near distance, shapes of buildings come into the proprietors – an elderly pair of Clanners from a tiny
sight, faint glow spilling from windows and doors, like cut- village a kilometer to the east – were all too happy to accept
outs against a darkening Borcan horizon. A few tents have the Drafts of the Judiciary to house and feed six horses for
been set up around the perimeter, evidence of a Scrapper some top secret operation. What would they be used for?
infestation, and a small stable at the side of the building is Don’t ask, can’t tell. When the Executioner in his rumbling
stacked with six mounts – no doubt the replacements that carriage showed up with yet more Drafts, demanding to
had been promised for the party’s carriage. swap the six horses in their stables with his own, and com-
Pumpkin struggles to draw breath, just barely able to manding them to prepare the incoming steeds for another
keep hold of the reins. Once she pulls the vehicle over at transport coming in eight hours, it was just another simple
the side of the road, she turns to the character next to her task with a big reward. As the characters approach the en-
and gasps out, “I’m gonna need a round of shuteye… For trance, the stableboy, actually just the grandson of the two
the next leg. Y’all sort this out.” The kid looks exhausted. owners, is already rushing out to unlatch the bridle and get
Better to let her rest in the cabin, so she can gather some the horses swapped.
strength for the rest of the way. But leaving her with Zeno He’s not the only one investigating the newcomers,
doesn’t sound like the best call. Better to take prisoner though, as several patches of dirt rise up from the ground
along, before he gets ideas. next to the guesthouse and slowly begin to shamble across

LEX TALIONIS 17
FIXER-UPPER to the carriage. One steps forward into the diffuse light, revealing himself to be a
For the most part, the “repairs” the grime-encrusted Scrapper. “Y’alright there, mate? What’s up with your friend? Why’s
Scrappers make to the carriage are mere- he wearin’ a metal face? Name’s Cleat, and we ‘ere’re the Grifters, bunch a’ Scavengers
ly cosmetic at best, buffing out dents in who kick about this spot for scrap ‘n tha’. “Want us t’ take a look at yer cart? Fix it up?”
the metal exterior, polishing the wood- By the time Cleat has managed to enunciate his offer, the filthy dirt diggers are already
en wheel spokes to remove any blem- swarming over the vehicle, poking around under the frame and loudly discussing the
ishes, and filing rust away from springs. supposed damage.
However, if the characters previously “Ay, you’ve got some splintered spokes here, wheel’ll come apart if you run it much
came away from their encounter with further.”
the Chronicler Agent at Alcove S-3 with “Rusted nails on yer bottom axle, might drop the thing if you go over a bumpy
a transponder nail driven into their ve- patch.
hicle, one of the Scrappers – if paid to do “Got some sorta weird spiky thingy, doesn’t look like it’s supposed to be there,
so – will pull it out and toss it aside with could be trouble.”
a groan “Yer fuckers been bugged!” This “Fuck me, these springs have been put together like it was a Mouse’s first damn day
leads to a Chronicler raid being staged on the job, I’ll sort this out if you let me, you’ll be riding smooth all the way to fuckin’
on the guesthouse at a later date, the ‘Spania.”
tech-toads assuming the prisoner was Cleat simply flashes a wide grin as the loud complaints of the Scrappers filter their
left there, but gives the characters respite way into the ears of the characters, before holding out his hand. “Hundred Drafts,
from the Cluster tracking them. good as new.”

RECKLESS T H E T R AV E L E R
The stopover at Grifter’s Rock is cru- Along with the eruption of activity outside of the guesthouse in the dead of night
cial, and in many ways the actions of the comes a few sleepy patrons emerging to investigate. The building only has room for
characters will determine if the adven- a handful of inhabitants, so the crowd gathered at the window isn’t intrusive. As the
ture continues on course. Should they characters march through to buy supplies, food, and water from the innkeepers, one
act reckless and leave Zeno unattended of the figures steps forward; a Jehammedan, wearing a red scarf around his neck. Ten-
together with the wounded Pumpkin in- sions quickly skyrocket, as Zeno lunges forward towards the newcomer, held back
side the carriage, or should they rely on at the last moment by the heavy chains and a character straining to keep him under
just a single character watching over the control. A snarl rips itself from the Acheron’s lips as the Jehammedan lifts his arm in
Acheron, the situation can wildly spin defense, the other hand at the hilt of his knife, while stepping back, trying to calm the
out of control. outburst. “Please, I mean no harm, I just wanted to introduce myself.”
Zeno will attempt to free himself, ei- If ungagged, Zeno launches into a tirade against the Jehammedan figure, “I ought
ther by taking Pumpkin hostage, trying to rip you to shreds you mangy cur, tear off your limbs and use them as kindling for
to memetically influence his guard to the fire I’ll set in your damned stable!” Even with the memetic payload in place, from
free him from his shackles, or both. Ei- hours of traveling, this sudden eruption is more than enough motivation to allow a
ther way, if the character watching over character to shove the gag back into the prisoner’s mouth, cutting him off. The target
the prisoner doesn’t pay utmost atten- of the Acheron’s rage seems shaken by the ferocity of the speech, unable to grasp the
tion, Zeno will try to disarm and over- motivation for the tantrum of hatred, but with Zeno silenced it’s possible to finally
power the character while the rest of the have a discussion with the traveler.
group attends the guesthouse, entirely “I’m Hakkal, Sword of Jehammed, and I’ve seen your carriage outside. I’m looking
willing to use lethal force to free himself. for a quick way to travel south, and willing to pay for passage with my services.” If
Should the Acheron succeed, he will the characters aren’t familiar with the traveling Sword, his affiliation should concern
mount one of the available horses and them considering they were just ambushed by such fanatics a few hours ago. How-
break out south to catch up with the ever, the newcomer appears utterly genuine in his request. If the characters inquire
Rotten Few, leaving the remaining char- what he’s looking for, he’ll explain; “I’m searching for my niece Senna. She’s been gone
acters to chase after the fugitive. In this for weeks, and I’ve been traversing the southern reaches of the Protectorate in hopes
particular case, they won’t be seeing Zeno of finding her. She’s young, she’s lost, and I’m certain she’s in need of help.”
again until the finale, which will need to As introductions continue, Hakkal moves closer and back towards the carriage.
be adapted by the GM accordingly. If the group informs him that they have just survived an assault by Jehammedans on
their way here, Hakkal will raise his eyebrows with bewilderment, following up with
“The Iconide of Justitian would never condone such a heinous act, it would be a death
sentence to our precarious standing.” His eyes pass over the group to the convict in
chains, studying the blatantly Neognostic tattoos on the convict’s exposed arms. “Un-
less you’re transporting someone who is guilty of crimes against my tribe.”
Zeno chuckles, his shoulders heaving in amusement at Hakkal’s suspicion.
THE TRUTH SHARED DESTINY
If the characters dare to reveal their prisoner’s identity to Hakkal, his features freeze If any character in the party previously
over with terror. Immediately, his hand drops to his belt, unlatching his dagger. “Zeno endured the events of LAST WATCH,
Blackheart?” he hisses, “Acheron of the Rotten Few?” they will quickly recognize their former
Hakkal is clearly distressed, his eyes have darkened, and his gaze rapidly darts companion and fellow survivor, Hakkal.
back and forth between Zeno and the characters. “What in Jehammed’s name are you The wandering Sword, traveling across
doing, transporting a creature of such malice? This man is a murderer, a terrorist; car- the Protectorate to track down his lost
nage incarnate!” The characters can attempt to shed light on the situation and press niece, was already planning to join a car-
Hakkal for his knowledge. After all, they were hired to do this job without much intel riage on its southward journey, but fol-
and have been kept in the dark on the identity of their cargo. Naturally, they will be lowing his reunion with his old friends
curious as to what they’ve gotten themselves into. he offers his help as a matter of honor,
Hakkal will step aside and lower his voice “This man is a criminal of war. He and especially if he gets to see the terrible
his warband were deployed during the Adriatic Wars to slaughter my people behind condition the Vagrant girl Pumpkin is in.
the frontlines. Every Jehammedan worth their salt knows of the unspeakable atroci- Such a coincidence can only be the re-
ties Zeno and the Rotten Few have committed against us. He should be executed on sult of Jehammed’s own will, and so it is
the spot!” his divine duty to share his destiny with
Hakkal rambles on, exposing whatever detail he picked up on the prisoner those of the characters.
throughout his years. “He shouldn’t even be here. Rumors had it he went under-
ground in Purgare, or that he had died already. Where on Earth are you taking him?”
he asks accusingly. PUMPKIN’S CONDITION
The characters can try and explain their positions. This is what they’ve been To assess Pumpkin’s condition and do
hired for after all, and despite his tension and anger Hakkal readily acknowledges a proper diagnosis, a successful roll of
that they’re not the ones who are to blame. INT+Medicine (2) is required. The rough
“Will they put him on trial in Ignatz?” he demands to know. “I’m offering Je- coughing is clearly not the symptom of
hammed’s help to escort this bastard to his due punishment.” an oncoming flu, but something far more
serious. Depending on the amount of
B A C K AT T H E C A R R I A G E Triggers rolled, her status can be deter-
After some additional explanation allowing the newcomer to slowly begin to under- mined.
stand the scope of everything that has happened on their journey so far, Hakkal offers
to inspect their coach. He grabs his gear, shoulders his bow and medicine pouch and 1 TRIGGER: A quick visual check reveals
follows the characters over to the cabin of the carriage. His addition to the team that her windpipe isn’t fully blocked yet,
might give the characters some respite, but the nomad is hardly going to sell them but there is a bruise growing behind her
out to the Chroniclers, and their strength has been reduced following the Vagrant’s larynx that is rapidly accumulating blood
injury. Desperate times, desperate measures. and water, simultaneously restricting her
In the cabin, Pumpkin is struggling with her sleep, her voice faint and raspy as swallowing and breathing.
she clutches her neck. She coughs with a ragged breath before trying to make excuses,
“I’m fine, just… think I caught something in my throat.” The characters may as well 2 TRIGGERS: The rock that hit her neck
examine her now, but it's obvious from simply looking at the girl that she’s in a bad caused internal hemorrhaging. Her situa-
state, and it’s not getting any better. She needs to get to a place with actual medical tion is critical, and she requires immedi-
facilities, such as those in Ignatz. The mission just got a lot more urgent. ate medical attention from a professional
If the Vagrant is informed of her medical condition, a creeping panic makes its surgeon, who may be able to alleviate the
way onto her visage. “B-but, I’m gonna be okay right? We’ll make it before anything constriction of her airway and stop the he-
gets too bad? Oh, dear…” No time to waste. Back on the road. matoma from growing.
As soon as Zeno realizes that the tattooed Jehammedan making his way into the
cabin is here to stay, his mood drastically shifts. Where he had previously spent the 3+ TRIGGERS: The kid is going to die a
long journey calmly sitting in place, occasionally asking for some food or water or slow and terrible death. Within the next
muttering prayers and epithets under his breath, he now remains visibly tense and 8-12 hours the swelling will expand to
on-edge. He doesn’t vocalize his annoyance at being forced to travel with the Sword, seal off her windpipe entirely, until even-
for now, but it’s clear in every facet of his body language. tually no more oxygen can pass through.
Pumpkin, meanwhile, drops off into a dazed slumber, occasionally broken by With the hematoma already the size of a
coughs and choking breaths. Her throat has now acquired a large, blotchy purple walnut, not even intubation can rescue
bruise, and it’s clear she’s hurting. Any concern is waved off with a “Don’t even, don’t her. This is a terminal condition; denial
worry about it, alright?” Hakkal offers to take her place at the driver’s seat, seeing that will just prolong her suffering. Pumpkin’s
she is barely capable of keeping her eyes open. life will end through asphyxiation.

LEX TALIONIS 19
 SCENE 4: THE STRIP
Nighttime. The road ahead is an empty artery. Hakkal calls this part “The Strip.” If
asked what that means, he shakes his head in disgust answering “Whorelander ter-
ritory.”. Ahead of them, lights flare up in the dark. A campsite, with tents lit by the
warm sheen of bonfires. There are obstacles placed on the street, ramparts, trash, and
boarded up fences, forcing Hakkal to slow down the carriage to navigate the slalom.
Scantily clad men and women appear on both sides of the road, closing in to bring the
transport to a halt.
“Get out of the way, we have important business to conduct!” Hakkal yells out.
From the driver’s seat it’s evident that there’s at least two dozen people belonging to
this site now seeping onto the road. Not a blink of an eye later some barely dressed
women jump to the side of the carriage, pressing their faces and bare naked tits against
the window slats, peeking inside. “Come on, live a little, don’t be so trite! We have all
the drinks you want, plus a lot more!” one of the Magpies whispers into the cabin.
“Who’s the stranger with the mask? He must be awful’ pretty!” another one teases.
Zeno has worked out what’s going on, and a fiendish grin is almost discernible
in his eyes. “Well? Aren’t you going to partake?” he asks the group. “You’re transport-
ing the Demiurge back to hell, after all, and you’ve just been beset by savage Swords
and technological terrors, why not take a break for a while? You never know when
it’ll be your last chance. I’ll bet the birds even have someone who can take a look at
your… friend.” He nods towards Pumpkin, wheezing and groaning. “Besides, if you
keep running like this your horses are gonna collapse, I can hear it in their footsteps.”
True enough, the horses are visibly exhausted – Hakkal has been driving them hard,
desperate to get Pumpkin to safety. A short stop will do them good.
Meanwhile at the front, a voluptuous lady with streaks of white in her red mane
has caught up with Hakkal and the character riding shotgun “You’re one handsome
lad. I’m pretty sure they don’t give you what you deserve at home.” The Jehammedan
is reluctant, and along with the dangerous prisoner and the wounded Vagrant girl, it’s
not an enticing prospect to stop. However, when one of the eager Magpies lets out
a groan of exasperation and sassily adds, “Don’t be so prudish, the Anabaptists who
came through before also had ‘big important business’, but they still joined us for some
fun. Damn squares…” the mood shifts. The Anabaptist delegation should be arriving
from the south, from Cathedral City, so what other group of the Broken Cross could
be roaming this empty road ahead of them? Time to piece two and two together.
S M E L L I N G T H E R AT
Selanis plays up her friendly, seductive ROADSIDE SIRENS
persona, accommodating her guests’ ev- “Yes, they came through here before nightfall. Left a mighty tip. Boasted about going for
ery desire, pointing out men and women a wild ride,” the redhead explains if pressed for facts. “But you gotta give me something
that might suit their tastes, offering up in exchange for more.” She opens her palm, nudging the characters to pass over some
what she claims to be her best distillate – Drafts. “Clearly Furors, three men, three women, heavily armed, vets like you don’t see
and she does it well, with hardly a hint of come around often, all scarred and rugged,” she continues after collecting some cash.
an ulterior motive. With an INS+Empa- As the characters try to establish a conversation with the leading Magpie, who
thy (3) roll, however, a character is able to just calls herself Selanis, the group is hounded by her Flock of eager prostitutes, male
piece together the situation and realise and female alike, who attempt to drag their attention towards the tents with a flurry
that the Magpie is stalling for time. But of hugs and kisses. “Don’t worry so much! You’ll get to your destination in time…”
why? A further successful roll of INS+ they moan, tugging and pulling at the collars and backpacks of the characters, like
Cunning (3) allows them to analyse the sirens calling a band of shipwrecked pirates to mate. A few of them appear haunt-
surroundings and the locations of the ingly beautiful in the dark, as they playfully attempt to seduce the group. All of this
Apocalyptics in the campsite, and realise becomes increasingly dangerous, as Zeno must be watched at all times.
that there’s someone missing. Looking If the characters can keep their focus, they can continue to press Selanis for infor-
around, they’ll spot the Owl position- mation, but further knowledge requires them to convince her beyond plain bribery.
ing herself within reach of the armored A successful Combination of PSY+Cunning (3) and CHA+Expression (3) is necessary
carriage, prowling ever closer. With the to warm the heart of the Magpie enough for her to willingly spill more. “Yes, they
crisis detected, they can subtly alert their were going after some Judges that came through before. They were keen on what we
squadmates and extricate themselves knew about them. The entourage had an armored carriage just like yours. The typical
from the situation, the story continuing Squad, as you see em’ patrol the countryside, eight Protectors and some. All uptight
at regular pace from here onwards with of course, not like you easy fellas,” she says with a warm smile, as she tries to brush
the characters back on the road and their the hair of the character closest to her. However, as open of a game as Selenis plays
cargo secured. with the characters, she’s dragging out the acquisition of hard facts for as long as she
can. She doesn’t care that the group is under pressure. Hakkal AGI+Stealth which can be attempted once every (4) Rounds in
has no choice but to cut everyone’s attention back to the task order to notice it. If the Acheron manages to free himself, he
at hand. “We have a half dead girl and a mass murderer in tow. will immediately hurl his massive frame at the guarding char-
We must get back on the road.” acter to overpower him and try to choke him to death with his
chains. The violence unfolding in the cabin will shock Pump-
BLINDSIDED kin out of her slumber who’ll screech for help, yet her voice
Selanis isn’t as genuine as she appears. She’s been paid off by has fully disappeared at this point, leaving her at Zeno’s mercy.
the Rotten Few to keep her eyes peeled for their leader, and In order to secure the raging Anabaptist in time, the group
do whatever she can to free him if another carriage should must notice the commotion and recapture him.
pass through her camp. As soon as the characters appear in
the dead of night, she correctly calculates that the first convoy b Selanis has drawn the characters in with wine, women,
to pass through was nothing but a decoy to put the Anabap- wiles, or any other method in her playbook – they’re totally
tists on the wrong track. This is the right one. Now, all she has enamored with her and her Flock, and have left their charge
to do is distract this ragtag group of half-baked prison guards unattended. By the time the Owl manages to sneak around the
long enough for one of her Owls to sneak past them and at- carriage and silently enter from the unobserved side, ensuring
tempt to break Zeno free. The two most likely outcomes are: she doesn’t wake Pumpkin, Zeno has already begun working
at the handcuffs, straining his wrists to try and slip through
b If someone is keeping an eye on the cargo, the only way for the tight cuffs. If he was left alone, he would likely manage to
the Owl to operate is to slip a tool through the window slat dislocate his thumbs and escape, but the arrival of the Owl ne-
unseen. The character guarding Zeno must succeed at a roll gates that necessity. The assassin works quickly, taking stock
of INS+Perception (4) to notice the tiny splint dropped into of the situation and hurrying over to the prisoner’s cuffs. Just
the cabin. If the roll fails, Zeno will have a chance of clasp- a few moments later and the mechanism is free, leaving the
ing the metal piece in his hands and begin to dismantle the Acheron unbound. Courteously, he gives the Apocalyptic a
handcuffs. This is a Complex Action of AGI+Dexterity which few moments to move away and slink back to cover, before
will take him (16) Rounds to complete. Spotting the lockpick- he bursts from the cabin and clambers onto one of the horses
ing attempt in the dark of the cabin is tough, and a character linked to the carriage, rapidly detaching it from the harness
must succeed at a Conflict of INS+Perception against Zeno’s and galloping off into the night, towards Ignatz.

LEX TALIONIS 21
 SCENE 5: RUN FOR IT!
As soon as Zeno has broken free of his chains, courtesy of the Owl, chaos erupts.
Selanis was keeping an eye on the carriage the whole time, and once she spots the
Acheron clambering out to grab a horse, she gives off a piercing whistle. Instantly, her
Magpies switch from gentle, teasing flirtation to aggressively pushy passes at all of the
characters – grabbing hold of their arms while talking about how strong or supple
their muscles are, how well toned, and so on. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that
this is a ruse, especially once the horse Zeno has chosen whinnies and prepares to
WANTED gallop away. The Apocalyptics aren’t looking for a fight, but they’ll happily delay the
Should Zeno manage to escape, wheth- party to let the Acheron escape. The characters must succeed a BOD+Force (2) roll
er due to his own cunning, aid from to push their adoring ‘friends’ away and rush towards the cart, setting off into the
the Magpies at the Strip, or any other moonlight after the escaping Anabaptist.
method, his objective remains the same. Zeno’s mount is a well trained horse dedicated to pulling carts for the Judiciary,
Using the Judge assigned to guard his but it’s not used to being directly ridden, especially not without a saddle. The Ache-
prison cell, he sent a message to the Rot- ron grabs the animal’s mane tight, holding on for dear life as he sloppily maneuvers it
ten Few that he would be transported in the darkness. It’s not moving nearly close to full speed, dissuaded by the darkness
to Ignatz. Therefore, the Acheron must and the strange nature of its rider, but it’s fast enough to give the carriage a run for its
travel to the town in order to regroup money. In order to catch up with Zeno, the character at the reins must enter a Con-
with his pack and free himself from the flict of AGI+Navigation with him, accumulating Successes with each roll. When the
mask latched around his head. However, difference in the total Successes reaches (5), one party has either successfully caught
with several high-up figures in the Judi- up with the other, or escaped.
ciary and Broken Cross gathering in one When the carriage comes close to the galloping horse, the characters must some-
place, his old instincts for causing max- how get Zeno off it and back on the ground. If they target the horse, they must either
imum disruption kick in. Zeno’s new deal (10) Damage to it in order to cause it to stumble and fall, or successfully land an
motivation, having already broken free, Aimed Attack with a Difficulty of (+4) against its legs. Otherwise, should they instead
is to irrevocably disrupt the relationship try and knock Zeno off, a BOD+Force (6) roll can be made to kick or push him onto
between the upper echelons of the Ana- the ground, right into the path of the wheels, causing him to take (10) Damage and
baptists and Judiciary by slaughtering the Shellshock Complication, and allowing him to be quickly recaptured and dragged
the delegation from Cathedral City. back into the cabin. – he’s a veteran of the Adriatic Wars, he can handle it.

SCENE 6: EYE IN THE SKY

Whether the characters managed to successfully see through Selanis’ deception, run
Zeno down and topple him from his horse, or notice the turmoil breaking out inside
the carriage before it was too late, they have successfully kept their prisoner and re-
turned to their normal path on the road. Just as it seems the situation can’t get any
worse, though, the characters begin to hear an odd sound, a strange buzz, distinct
from the usual noises of the cabin. Is it the damn orb again? After noticing it, an
INT+Engineering (3) roll is needed to guess at the origin – the tone is high pitched,
like some sort of fast moving electrical component. But where is the device? Looking
around the cab, even popping the doors and scanning along the exterior surface of
the carriage reveals nothing.
Only someone smart enough to look outside and directly up at the moon will be
able to spot something unnatural. A strange distortion in the glowing disk, as if it had
been bent out of shape somehow, tips them off to look closer. By succeeding an INS+
Perception (3) roll, they will be able to begin to make out the faint, angular outline of
some sort of flying object, refracting the moonlight through its plastic casing to make it
almost invisible. The source of the object is obvious, especially to anyone who has spent
time in Uptown; a Chronicler spy drone, watching from above, its beady lenses record-
ing their movements. They’ve been picked up by the damn tech-toads after all. Have
they been following them around, all this time? Is the whole operation compromised?
Either way, the drone would normally fly far overhead, at a great enough distance
to make even spotting it nigh-impossible, but the darkness has forced the operators TRACKED
to reduce its altitude to ensure its night-vision optics can properly focus on the indi- The Chronicler who inspected the char-
viduals below. Even with it flying this close, it’s no easy feat to lob a projectile up to acters on their mission at Alcove S-3 was
take it down. A Combination roll of BOD+Force (3) and AGI+Projectiles (3) will allow suspicious throughout. After some ini-
a character to hurl a stone picked up from the ground with sufficient force and accu- tial deliberation, regardless of the car-
racy to knock the buzzing metal insect out of the sky, otherwise a gunshot or arrow riage being bugged or not, he deploys a
can be fired with AGI+Projectiles (3) to accomplish the same effect. If the drone is hit surveillance drone to track the carriage
with a stone or takes less than (5) Damage, it veers off course and pulls back, presum- from about a mile away. The tiny spy in
ably returning to the operator for repairs. Any more Damage causes it to fall from the the sky has recorded their entire journey
sky, softly clattering to the ground. Whatever. At least they got rid of their pursuers. to this point, its data feed accumulating
Hopefully the Chroniclers didn’t get to surveil them throughout the entire journey. in the Cluster, waiting to be read out by
That would be fatal for the group’s anonymity in the eyes of the Cluster. a Streamer with the permission to access
the files.
Whatever comes next, the charac-
SCENE 7: RADIO SILENCE ters are busted. They will be marked in
The sun begins to crest over the horizon after a long night of traveling. After his failed the Static Stream as Judicial collabo-
escape attempt, Zeno has returned to his impassive silence, his cold demeanor serv- rators, if their identities can be traced
ing as a sharp contrast to Pumpkin. Her condition has significantly worsened, with a through the Office of Locality. If they’ve
large, black discoloration bulging on her neck, and a hoarse rattle accompanying ev- been no-names and unregistered guests
ery strained breath. She doesn’t have long left before her throat closes up completely up until now, the Chroniclers will at-
and she runs out of air. Thankfully, there’s only about 20km left to take to make it tempt to dig up some dirt that can po-
to the town of Ignatz. The horses are already on their last legs, heads low – reason tentially be used against them. As yet, it’s
enough to look forward to the end of this damn journey, if only to get rid of this fuck- uncertain if they need to be interrogated
ing Acheron with his stupid mask. or disposed of: More data required. If
All that’s left is to radio in with Vexicall and report on their position, informing the characters manage to crash the tiny
the waiting Executioner on their progress, along with the trials and tribulations they surveillance drone that’s stalking them,
have endured since their last conversation. When they spark up the communication the Chroniclers will miss out on the fi-
device, though, and make their report, they are greeted with indifferent static. Con- nal destination of their journey. Howev-
cern quickly fills the air; try again. Nothing. One more time. Nada. The Judge has er, the tech-toads are more than capable
never failed to respond to a call before, and with a mission as urgent as this he would of putting the puzzle together on their
surely have at least delegated someone to answer in his place if he needed to sleep. own. This unratified operation should
Something is wrong. Very wrong. Onwards! have never been conducted without
their approval.
RESOLUTION
As the end of Act 2 approaches, the characters can potentially be in very different
circumstances depending on their actions up to this point. Some groups will have
managed to keep the Acheron completely under their control, the powerful figure
remaining locked in his chains despite attempts from without and within to change
that fact. Others will have a glaring omission in their cabin due to Zeno managing
to escape, vanishing into the night or galloping out of reach ahead of the carriage.
Regardless, though, the objective of the characters remains similar. Ignatz.
Each situation will present different motivations to reach the offsite Judge town,
a variety of strings which can be tugged by the Game Master to ensure the pace re-
mains high and the Players remain motivated. One constant of most groups will be
Pumpkin’s rapidly deteriorating condition, choking and wheezing with every breath,
while Vexicall’s silence presents yet another foreboding mystery.
Finally, the delivery or recovery of Zeno is perhaps the strongest impulse – the
characters will have observed the Anabaptist attempting to head south in his escape
attempts, towards their destination. Why would he travel towards his own reckoning
with such drive? Only by staying on target will they be able to know. Regardless, it
allows the chance for him to be recaptured by the characters, setting things right.

LEX TALIONIS 23
 POUND
FOR
POUND
S C E N E 1 : D E AT H B Y T H E L A K E S I D E
Morning dawns. Hakkal is pushing the horses to the limit as they enter the final
stretch. “This area had Enemoi sightings. Watch out for raiders!” He calls out from
the front. Inside the cabin, Pumpkin’s condition is riveting. The girl is gasping, her
face next to the window slat trying to catch the draft with an open mouth, slowly
panicking. She has ceased to speak.
A few hundred meters ahead, a lake sparkles in the early morning sun, surround-
ed by lonely shrubs and oversized rubble. A rare sight in dusty Borca. “We need to wa-
ter the horses quickly, or they’ll break.” Hakkal points toward the lake, and motions
to the character riding shotgun to keep an eye on the surroundings, so as to not run
into another ambush. As the carriage leaves the road and clatters toward the shore,
any character can roll INS+Survival (2) to spot fresh wheel furrows and hoof trails
in the muck. A quick examination reveals that there were at least four, probably six
horses, followed by the slim tracks left behind by something with four wheels, just
like their own armored carriage… Something isn’t right here.
The cart rumbles down towards the lake, pulling up at the shore. The water is
slightly murky and brackish, but more than drinkable – an opportunity to refill any
flasks or canteens, along with allowing the horses to refresh themselves. Hakkal han-
dles the mounts, giving the characters time to follow the tracks spotted earlier; a faint
glint of metal peeks out from behind a large boulder along the path. Learning from
M I S I N F O R M AT I O N past experiences, Hakkal notes “Take the Acheron with you, don’t leave him alone in
Back at the Strip, the Magpie Selanis the carriage again, just in case.”
informed the characters that the Judges Rounding the boulder, a grave sight immediately becomes apparent. The sandy
were well ahead of the pursuing Ana- lakeshore has been torn up, horse hooves and footprints mixed with chaotic tracks
baptists, but the incident by the lakeside from a heavy carriage going awry. Naked, brutalized corpses of what must have been
reveals the truth. She was lying through the occupants are haphazardly scattered around, in a sorry state. The bodies are muti-
her teeth about the timeline, and the lated, limbs carved off by some cruel bladed weapons, or torn to shreds by high-caliber
Rotten Few were far closer to their prey gunfire. This is what became of the group traveling ahead, they were ambushed and
than she let on. What else has she kept executed to the last man. While the characters have never seen Vexicall in person,
hidden? they can guess which corpse belongs to him – one which was callously ripped limb
from limb with savage ferocity, leaving only a bloodied torso shrouded in viscera. All
C O N TA C T P O I S O N of the bodies have had their belongings removed, including the hats and leather coats
When the Rotten Few took out the car- and other insignia of the Judiciary, and there’s no trace of their carriage either.
riage, slaughtered the inhabitants, and Zeno, if ungagged, simply lets out a cold, heartless chuckle as he comes to un-
found no trace of their leader, they knew derstand the situation, looking out through the narrow eye slits of his expressionless
that another transport would be arriving helmet. “A rotten end for rotten people, how appropriate. The Demiurge will devour
soon, and that they would likely find the their Pneuma and spit them back out. Good riddance.” Any character who has been
corpses. In order to disrupt any investi- interacting with the Acheron over the past day can roll INS+Empathy (2) to guess that
gation, the bodies have been smeared Zeno was expecting exactly this turn of events. The Acheron is in on all of this, and
with a contact poison developed by the the ones responsible for this massacre are acting according to a plan that the charac-
pack’s Elysian, Hera. Based on the sting ters are not fully aware of.
of a Stukov Scorpion, anyone who touch- However, should he remain gagged, all that will be heard from inside his mask is
es the bodies will lose (1) point of BOD a rumbling, muffled laughter. As the characters continue to inspect the murder site
per Round. When it falls to (0), they for clues, a sudden movement from a nearby boulder draws their attention and ratch-
will be paralysed for a day. The toxin ets up the tension. The outline of a figure clad in a camouflaged cloak and masked
is Potency (3), and can be resisted with against the backdrop of shrubbery, aiming at them with the laser sight of a high-tech
BOD+Toughness. sniper rifle.
S C E N E 2 : T H E H I G H W AY M A N THE SILENCER
The surprise appearance of the strange highwayman doesn’t help diffuse the morbid Turin is one of the Enemoi operatives
atmosphere of the massacre site, far from it, especially as the laser bead of his rifle sent on behalf of the Raven Chagall to
travels across the chest of one of the characters, “Names! Purpose!” Is he in league probe the settlement of Everlast, nestled
with the Rotten Few? Could he be one of them, left behind to clean up after the main within Ferropol. He, along with sever-
group has gone? Zeno is hardly going to answer, leaving the characters to defuse the al other Custodians and Silencers, has
situation alone. been casing out the surrounding area
A CHA+Expression or Negotiation (3) roll is needed for the party to ease the for several weeks now, determining the
stranger into talking. “Don’t touch the dead. They’re laced with poison,” he calls out right moment to strike. Turin is one of
as a warning, his laser now travelling across the pile of corpses. the external guards, tasked with ensur-
A roll of INS+Empathy (2) is enough for a character to realise that the highway- ing that the surrounding countryside re-
man is a witness, rather than a perpetrator. He doesn’t act hostile, merely cautious – mains clear, hence his investigation into
a sensible attitude considering the blood-soaked surroundings. If the characters es- the attack of the Rotten Few. Through-
calate the situation, or Botch their explanations bad enough to devolve into combat, out the conversation with the charac-
the stranger will rapidly retreat to a nearby boulder field, putting his camo cloak, high ters, he will subtly try to have them con-
powered rifle, and other technological weaponry to good use to create distance. He’s firm their destination – so long as it’s not
not in for a fight and has no stake in this game. Ferropol, it’s not his problem.
Should they manage to explain their presence and ease the tension, the highway- If the characters have never met an
man lowers his weapon and approaches the group carefully, drawing back his hood to Enemoi before, they might first be in-
reveal a pair of piercing green eyes. “I am Turin. I watched over this stretch of road for clined to identify Turin as some sort of
any interlopers and spotted a carriage like yours approaching. They ran straight into a high-tech Scrapper, or perhaps a Hell-
set up, about eight hours ago. Five attackers, all with Neognostic markings, although I vetic operative going incognito. A few
suspect there may have been a sixth. Too many to intervene.” He points towards one hints will tip them off to his identity,
of the torsos split open by a bullet hole, “This one was mowed down by a large musket however; unlike a dirt-digger, he keeps
ball, from a long distance. I didn’t spot the shooter, however.” himself and his gear impeccably clean,
Then he points up to the hills rising in the distance. “They took the carriage and and the Alpine soldiers would never be
left the Fortified Road, maybe three, four hours before now. I saw them race towards caught dead without a Trailblazer or
the Muktar stone totems before they went out of sight. Shortcut to the Judge town some other obvious mark of their ori-
behind the hill line. Rough terrain, but it will cut their travel time down by thirty gin. He’s clearly something different, but
minutes.” He checks a small watch on the underside of his wrist, and pulls his hood it takes an INT+Legends (3) roll to fully
back up. “I must get back to my post. You’re all heading down from Ferropol. Any- identify his origins as a member of the
thing for me to be prepared for up there?” He asks for a return of favor. The charac- ostracized and nomadic bandit Clan,
ters can decide to fill him in on anything they might consider relevant. In any case, branded traitors and public enemies of
he wishes them luck before he trudges away, quickly lost in the distance due to his the Protectorate by the Chroniclers.
camouflage. He has given the characters a pointer, but their next move is clear. They
have to follow that trail into the hills. Back to the carriage, quick! C O M B AT S TAT S
INITIATIVE: 4D/16 Ego Points
ATTACK: Whisper Rifle, Projectiles 12D,
SCENE 3: ANCIENT STONES Distance 100/400m, Mag. 1, Damage 14,
The characters must drive as fast as they can; with the horses freshly watered they Sensitive, Piercing (4), Armor Piercing;
can afford to keep the pace high towards the end of their journey. Going offroad, the a Combat Knife, Melee 5D, Distance
carriage is bumped and jolted from the rough, rocky surface, but luckily it’s easy to 1m, Damage 5, Smooth Running (3T)
follow the tracks of the hijacked cart as they cut though the stubby tundra grass. Left DEFENSE: Passive 1; Melee active
and right, looming rock formations begin to rise up, at first seemingly natural out- (Dodge), Mobility 6D; Ranged Combat
croppings, but soon revealed to be man-made stone totems. Many feature abstract active, Mobility 6D, Mental 10D
markings, faded runes and primitive drawings painted on the walls that fly by too SPECIAL: AGI+Stealth 9D, IN S+Percep-
quick to parse. As the carriage approaches the summit of the hill line, the horses are tion 9D, Hawkeye 2, Quick Eye 1
forced to stop. MOVEMENT: 3m
Jutting from the ground, and taller than a building, towers a colossal blackened ARMOR: Ghillie suit, Armor 1, Camo (4C)
rock monolith, its four flat sides all coated with paintings and inscriptions easily rec- CONDITION: 8 (Trauma: 5)
ognisable as naive depictions of the people who once ruled over this land, showcasing
their fight for survival. Each face, from top to bottom, tells the story of one of the
Great Old Clans, from their first origins, and a few hundred years of their history, in-

LEX TALIONIS 25
 fluenced by the gods controlling the stars and heavens to the mystical prophets risen
from the Earth to guide them into the future. The number 100 repeats itself across
one face, in intervals, and always in connection to another more obscure symbol,
reaching toward the top, until it suddenly turns into a 1000 after exactly ten glyph
cycles. A mesmerising sight, but there’s simply no time to waste gawking at ancient
megaliths. “Jehammed be with us, we must move swiftly!” Hakkal spurs the horses
back into motion, rapidly navigating along the bizarre plateau and through the forest
of totems ahead.
The ruin field grows more dense and hard to traverse at high speed, weaving in
and out of rocky passageways, but there is an ancient path crossing through that’s
relatively easy to follow. The Sword is deeply focused on spurring the horses, leaving
only the character riding shotgun to spot the approaching threat. With a Combi-
nation of PSY+Reaction (2) and INS+Perception (4) roll, they see the glint of metal
stretched between two stone totems, suspended just at the height of a horse’s legs. A
thin wire, too small to trip up the mounts, but just enough to cause the trap to spring.
There’s just enough time to yell a warning and brace for impact, but it’s too late to
change course before the lead row barges through. A sudden snarl of metal wire snap-
ping whips through the air- followed by a sharp, biological hiss.

THE TRAP SPRUNG V I L E P I T FA L L S
The Rotten Few, aware of the risk of A series of flasks and canisters hidden along the path and between the totem for-
being followed, planted various traps mations detonate in an cascading explosion, ejecting choking smog and iridescent
throughout the stone field, consisting ichor towards the carriage. The horses are hit dead on by burning hot acid as they
of flasks and canisters filled with Pher- race through the narrow trap. The animals panic instantaneously as the acrid grease
omancer ichor mixed in with other tears through their flesh; losing their footing in full gallop, the mounts at the helm
toxins and catalysts, linked up to a trip- topple over, crashing into the ones in the back. The speeding carriage slams into the
wire network rapidly strung up by their collapsing pile of bodies and flips over, catapulting Hakkal and the character next to
explosives expert. When the wires are him off the coaches’ bench. The group inside the cabin is violently tossed around as
snapped, a hormonal reaction inside the their transport sails through the air and shatters onto its side. Everyone involved in the
bomb casings causes each of the con- wreckage must succeed a roll of BOD+Athletics (4), or take (8) Damage in the impact –
tainers to erupt in a sudden and violent a Botch, in this case, indicates extreme trauma or death from a shattered neck.
burst of acidic spray. Now, the characters The sudden crash whips up dust and smoke, and the haunting howls of the dying
have stumbled right into the middle of horses fill the air. Everyone is lying on top of each other inside the carriage. Zeno is
them. It’s impossible to notice the trap alive, trying to drag himself out of the side door that’s been flung open. Hakkal rises
at high speed, and unless the characters from the low grass, his left arm hanging limp at his side. Broken. The Acheron is using
have abandoned their carriage along the the confusion to gain distance, and attempts to run. He must be stopped.
way and march the shortcut by foot, they Where is Pumpkin?
won’t be able to see it in time to avoid it
from going off. EXITUS
A faint moan escapes from the dark of the cabin. Pumpkin lies at the bottom, her body
twisted, lips blue, eyes red. A faint rattle is the only sign of life left in her. The charac-
ters must lift her from the wreckage; she’s no longer capable of moving on her own. As
she’s pulled outside, her breath quickens. It’s clear her time is up. She motions to the
characters that she wants to speak, but she can’t form a tone. One must move their ear
close to hear her last words. “Just… Finish… The job…” she whispers in a final struggle
before her face suddenly freezes over, and her eyes go blank. She doesn’t blink.
The situation is over the edge. Zeno, witnessing the girl's death, mocks the charac-
ters with a cruel snicker. Hakkal can’t take it any longer. With his functional hand he
draws his knife and steps toward the Acheron to gut him. The characters must inter-
vene and stop Hakkal from murdering their cargo – Ignatz is just over the hill, damnit!
The Jehammedan is furious. “He must die!” he roars. It requires quick action and the
right words to smother Hakkal’s outburst, with a combination of PSY+Reaction (2)
and INS+Empathy (4), otherwise Zeno will find a dagger thrust into his stomach.
The Jehammedan pauses, weighing up the arguments in his head. “You’re right.
He’s not worth it,” Hakkal says as he sheathes the knife and begins to put together a
makeshift splint for his broken arm. “We must bury the girl. We owe her that at least,”
he adds. Then he looks southeast. “We have about an hour left to travel by foot, but
we must hurry.”
If the characters are familiar with the customs of the Judges, they will know that
Pumpkin’s corpse must be brought with them to Ignatz in spiritual iconography, and a colossal broken cross is mount-
order to permit her to be interned in the Cemetery of the ed on the roof. A handful of Furors trot alongside on their
Judges in Justitian. Leaving a Judge’s remains behind is a own mounts, holding Spitfires at the ready, and an ornately
grave cruelty, but then again, Vexicall’s entire entourage is dressed Emissary sits at the helm – joined by a younger As-
rotting out there in the tundra and they can hardly turn cetic, guiding the horses. Their prisoner must be in the cart.
themselves into corpse collectors this close to the end of Where are Zeno’s helpers? If the characters have field
their journey. If they decide to carry Pumpkin’s dead body glasses, or sights mounted to their rifles, they can try and
along, they must wrap her up and strap her to a harness zoom in on the hub of Ignatz, across the main road towards
somehow; the character carrying her will not be able to do what appears to be a big market square in front of a massive
anything but shoulder her for the rest of the way. public building. The courthouse, maybe? Droves of people
clutter the plaza. There are prison workers and patrolling
Jurymen, as well as merchants and citizens going about
SCENE 4: their business. A successful roll of INS+Perception (2) re-
A P P R O A C H I N G I G N AT Z veals a mounted carriage, similar to their own, as it pulls
The first ramshackle buildings come into sight. A small, de- into the main road and rolls toward the open square. That
serted settlement sprouts at the top of a hill, looking like an must be Vexicall’s cart. A single coach driver, clad in a Pro-
abandoned campsite rather than a small town. “That’s not tector's garb, steers the vehicle.
it. The new town is at the foot of the hill,” Hakkal remarks. Reaching a rocky outcrop, just a few hundred meters
As the group chases along, the valley opens up to them. from the town, Hakkal calls a stop. “We should at least try
They can see Ignatz’ layout from up here, as well as the to get some use out of this heathen scum, see if he can tell
Fortified Road inbound to the city. Their vantage point is us the strength of his pack, who’s who. Pull the gag.” It’s
crucial, as they can already spot the Anabaptist delegation at least worth a shot, but as soon as the segment of the
approaching from the east; a massive cart more reminiscent mask is removed, the Acheron launches into a last, desper-
of a chapel on wheels which is drawn by eight towering ate attempt to escape. Zeno has been studying his captors
stallions. Red banners hang from its side, emblazoned with throughout the journey, learning their movements – and

LEX TALIONIS 27
 I g n at z
Once a silver mining town infested by control from the large courthouse at the pinnacle of the Judges and their power.
outcasts and miscreants, Ignatz has been heart of the town. Meanwhile, just a little further beyond the
remodelled to become the purest, most Expanding out, the main body of the central areas of the town lie a number of ru-
distilled example of the Judiciary’s ideolo- town has been rebuilt on the backs of the ins and shacks, now just empty husks for the
gy and ethical practices, beaten into shape convict laborers stationed here, bringing wind to gently whistle through. They’ll be
by the Iron Fist. Now, it’s a town kept un- high quality stone all the way from Cavernis knocked down in time for additional settle-
der strict control, in full accordance with at times to create facades reminiscent of ments, as the Judiciary converts Ignatz into
the Codex. High Judge Orvex was given Uptown. The prisoners are stashed out of a true muster town at the frontier for future
full purview over this domain, as long as he sight from the paved main road, behind the campaigns into the southern expanse be-
kept his eye clear of any covert operations main rank of homes, to ensure any visiting yond the Protectorate.
happening in his territory, and he exerts his dignitaries are met with only the pristine

VIGILANCE
The characters are in a tough spot. They their Concepts. Every character must succeed a Mental Defense (4) against the Dictate
do not know what the Rotten Few are protocol. The command: “Release me!” Should they succeed, they can ram the gag
up to, but it can’t be any good. To make back in, silencing the Anabaptist. If they fail, he’ll make a break for the town, spurring
the right decision, they need intel. Piec- the Rotten Few into action.
ing the information together that they
currently have, everything looks like the
prisoner exchange will commence in SCENE 5: HIGH NOON
front of the courthouse. Keeping their Whatever the characters do next, every action counts. Whether they stay at a safe
eyes on the big market place allows distance or rush into the town center will determine how the events unfold. They
for some visual data, but how are they must understand that something big is about to go down, and they are the only ones
supposed to spot any of Zeno’s men if who can warn the Judges and innocent bystanders in time. It should be clear as day
they are dressed up in Judge regalia? A that Zeno’s henchmen are potentially trying to sabotage the prisoner transfer and
Combination of INS+Perception (3) and will attempt to free their leader. What the characters don’t know however, is how far
PSY+Cunning (3) allows them to observe the Rotten Few are willing to go to reach their goal.
and interpret the scene.
a As the Anabaptists flood into the square, a High Judge can be seen exiting the
1 TRIGGER: The cart has pulled to a stop courthouse to cross the market square and greet the approaching delegation. Or-
in a position where anyone standing in vex waves his arm to guide them toward Vexicall’s carriage which is now parked
the open doorway of the cabin would at the center. Suddenly, a nearby convict drops his tools and races toward Or-
see a killing field stretch out in front of vex, grappling him in a chokehold, he places a gun at his temple, and whirls him
them – perhaps one of the Rotten Few is around like a human shield. Hostage taken.
hidden inside.
a The side door of Vexicall’s carriage swings open toward the south side of the plaza
2 TRIGGERS: One of the convicts laying where the Judges and Jurymen are located who oversee the convicts. Before they
out cobblestones along the road is a mus- can even respond to what’s happening to Orvex, they’re mowed down by fire from
cle strapped giant, totally out of place in a captured Judge Rotary Gun mounted inside the carriage. Riddled with bullet
the poorly-fed and scruffy lot. He’s out holes a dozen men go down in a spray of assault fire.
of position from the rest of the labor co-
hort, perhaps one of the Rotten Few in a At the same time, a Judgelike figure cuts the leg chains of an entire convict train. For-
disguise? ty marked criminals are let go in the middle of the market square as the chaos ensues.
Some of them bolt off into safety, while others immediately grab shovels and heavy
3+ TRIGGERS: A glint of reflected light tools, and start a riot, attacking bystanders, or collecting muskets off of fallen Judges.
draws the eye away from the main square
and up towards the courthouse. It’s all- a A shot cracks from the dome of the courthouse, its leaden bullet racing across the
but impossible to make out any detail, but distance and striking the Emissary in the head. The dignitary of the Anabaptist
the flashing is coming from a small win- drops off his mount dead. The Furors break out in haste, trying to retrieve the
dow on the domed roof – a sniper nest! body and retreat behind their cart to find cover.
a All out bedlam erupts across the entire square, citizens Emissary dead. In that case, the Rotten Few stage a
and merchants fleeing in all directions, as the attack- counterattack. Zeno charges towards the Anabaptist
ers suddenly call out their demand. “Bring us Zeno, delegation, banking on the confusion of the Spitfire
and the killing will stop!” Soon after, several figures plumes beginning to arc towards each other to make
retreat with their hostages toward the courthouse, to it through. As soon as he gets within 10 meters of the
entrench themselves. During their retreat, they drop ornate carriage, he detonates a Black Marble and swal-
a pair of Black Marbles on the ground to cover their lows the entire congregation of Furors and the trans-
movements, leaving bubbles of pitch-black space in port in a pitch-black Rift. Zeno is no stranger to the
their wake until they reach the courthouse entryway. unnatural environment within, and forges ahead to
seize the cart of the Anabaptists. The carriage breaks
a If Zeno is still with the characters, then they will out of the Rift and speeds out of town. The Rotten Few
quickly find themselves in the crosshairs of the Rotten are now in possession of the Anabaptists’ most valu-
Few, as their highest priority objective is rescuing their able asset: Kargonogh. More leverage for use against
leader. The sniper up in the tower will notice them the Judges.
first and try to eliminate the group, while radioing
their position to other members of her team on the a Rutgar, who hasn’t heard back from Vexicall in the
ground. In the turmoil the characters will have a hard past few hours, has issued a distress call to the Black
time telling friend from foe, and Zeno will do anything Judges stationed in Ignatz. A team of five specialists
in his might to fight his way out of captivity, even en- dispatches from their secret headquarters, armed with
gaging in melee if he can find the opportunity to get sufficient firepower to retaliate against the terrorists.
hold of a weapon.
a Should Zeno fall during the showdown, the Rotten
a If Zeno has been freed and his pack are retreating, the Few will abandon their mission and bail out of Ignatz,
Anabaptist Furors will try to step in – the Acheron is using their equipment and skill to put distance be-
too critical an asset to simply give up, even with the tween themselves and any pursuers.

BRANCHING POINT
There are countless ways for the final, climactic encounter ical storm between the two Cults, but it’s better than the
at the gates of Ignatz to play out, depending on the jour- Reformist going free. If he has been taken, however, the
ney up to this point and how the characters handle them- Judges rapidly agree to aid the Anabaptists in their efforts
selves during the chaotic turmoil. Game Masters who wish to recapture Zeno.
to extend the storyline can find further information on Finally, the Cluster’s investigation into the unfolding
Zeno’s pack and their immediate plans in the booklet THE events is a key point to consider. If the characters were
ROTTEN FEW. When approaching the final scene, there able to remove the bug on the carriage and destroy the
are several key variables which must be kept in mind when drone watching them, the Chroniclers will be aware of the
planning out the events taking place in Ignatz, or beyond operation but unsure of the exact circumstances and iden-
in other scenarios. tities of the prisoner or his captors. If they were to discover
Most critical among these is Zeno’s status. If the char- Zeno was an Acheron, though, they will be fully aware that
acters, in concert with the Judges and Anabaptists, were the Judges snatched a critical source of information right
able to repel the Rotten Few and keep the prisoner under from under their noses. The Fragments will be alerted, and
control, then the operation continues as planned; Kar- the repercussions will be dire.
gonogh is swapped for the Acheron, and the two Cults
go their separate ways. However, if he survives and es- THE DUST SETTLES
capes with his pack, or even worse manages to snatch Whether their mission was a total success or a complete
Kargonogh, an operation is immediately scrambled by all failure, the characters have found themselves thrust into
involved parties to get him back. The characters may be a high-stakes political game between the Judges, Anabap-
pulled into this as penance for their failure, or in recogni- tists, and Chroniclers. There’s a lot on the line, and their
tion of their valiant efforts. faces are about to become very well known to the upper
The second variable is Kargonogh, and his fate. Rut- echelons of each Cult. With Vexicall dead, one of Rutgar’s
gar, and by extension the Judges, are desperate to get their own deputies is assigned to handling the party and their
hands on the prisoner, and will happily resort to under- reward – cash, favors, or equipment equal in value to 2500
handed tactics. If the Acheron gets away, but leaves the Drafts each. Each character gains 15 XP for completing the
cart behind, the prisoner will simply be taken without adventure, and the group adds (10) Scars to their group’s
the normal transfer taking place. This will cause a polit- pool if they are following an Alignment.

LEX TALIONIS 29
EYE FOR EYE