The Fall of Man A Vaticine Church Chronicle ⚫ Free Teaser A Four-Part Conspiracy Adventure by Tobie Abad Explorers Society, 7th Sea and all related marks are © and ™ 2016 John Wick Presents. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be duplicated without express permission from the Author Sample file 1 |The Fall of Man – Book One “All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.” — Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason Dear Reader, This book is an incomplete book. This book is intended to serve as a teaser of The Fall of Man, a four-part conspiracy adventure for 7th Sea, second edition. This free book allows curious groups to get a peek to what sort of story this game would be exploring. Given the overall story is intended to be a Conspiracy Adventure, and conspiracies work best when there is a level of mystery and intrigue, this book will avoid spoiling the major portions of the adventure. If you find yourself intrigued by the contents, do consider getting the four books. And do let me know how the games turn out! Sincerely, Tobie Abad TAG Sessions Words by Tobie Abad Cover image: Phaeton, from The Four Disgracers Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem) After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, Haarlem 1562–1638 Haarlem) Tantalus, from The Four Disgracers Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem) After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, Haarlem 1562–1638 Haarlem) Ixion, from The Four Disgracers Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem) After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, Haarlem 1562–1638 Haarlem) Icarus, from The Four Disgracers Hendrick Goltzius (Netherlandish, Mühlbracht 1558–1617 Haarlem) AfterSample Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, Haarlem 1562–1638 Haarlem) file Public Domain artwork from the MET Museum 2 |The Fall of Man – Book One THE HERESY OF TRUTH To be of the Vaticine Church is to embrace the fact that the Theus has left the Riddle of Creation for man to ponder on. But beyond the gardens and spires of the Vaticine City and its wide reach are secrets and hidden organizations that would rather all embraced a narrative of their own devising. And while the faithful seek for ways to emulate and attain the ideals expected for one to be welcomed at Heaven’s gates, there are priests and other agents of the Church who abuse their titles and twist the Prophet’s message for their own. What seemingly begins as a mystery murder becomes the first clue to a greater conspiracy that stains the reputation of the Vaticine Church. This Mystery Adventure is not your typical dungeon crawl. Nor is this your usual high-seas swashbuckling adventure. This is a four-part Mystery Adventure patterned after the likes of books such as Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum, Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, Richard Ben Sapir’s Quest, and Katherine Neville’s The Eight. For groups interested in exploring such a story, I hope you will enjoy the adventure I have painstakingly crafted for you. Key Words: Conspiracy, Prophets, Secret Organizations, Murder, Symbology, What is The Fall of Man? In addition, as a Thriller, there will be some feeling of The Fall of Man is a four-part conspiracy thriller. For this following a trail that was left behind by the clues that are adventure to work, there are key “truths” that must be found. This can feel like a railroad for some groups. Care accepted as part of your game’s secret history. For was taken to try to offer multiple ways a scene can be example, in Javier Sierra’s book, The Secret Supper, the activated in the unfolding narrative. Optional scenes and book expects the reader to embrace as fact that Leonardo possible key points are offered for GMs to use if they seem Da Vinci has hidden coded symbols in his work, “Last more appropriate to their players. Supper”. This includes “beggars” being murdered in the painting of “Madonna of the Rocks” and other supposed Lastly, there will be a lot of “knowledge” that might not hidden secrets. This means, Game Masters are readily be present which the Heroes can benefit from. encouraged to read through the summary first of The Fall NPCs are presented to be the mouthpiece for these of ManSample to properly assess if this is what they want to information. However, GMsfile can always offer the establish as “true” in their version of Thèah. 3 |The Fall of Man – Book One information as the results of spent Raises from player In that note, consider using the X-Card at your table. characters with suitable backgrounds or Skills. Designed by John Stavropolous, the X-Card is a tool that helps groups manage difficult content without requiring Inspiration discussing the topics in advance. If you choose to use the This Adventure draws inspiration from multiple sources: X-card, simply do the following: ❖ Sapir’s Quest, Richard Ben Read this aloud: ❖ The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, Origin, Inferno, The Lost Symbol, by Dan Brown The X-Card is an optional tool that allows anyone in your game ❖ Foucault’s Pendulum, by Umberto Eco (including you) to edit out any content anyone is uncomfortable ❖ The Eight, by Katherine Neville with as you play. Since most RPGs are improvisational and we ❖ The Secret Supper, by Javier Sierra will not know what will happen til it happens, it is possible the ❖ Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, by Henry Lincoln game will go in a direction people do not want. An X-Card is a and Michael Baigent simple tool used to highlight and resolve problems as they ❖ Hudson Hawk, by Bruce Willis and Robert Kraft arise. Music Suggestions Now, get an index card and draw an X on it. Now read For groups that like adding atmospheric music to their the next part aloud: sessions, the following are recommended: ❖ The Best of Anthony Way If anything makes you uncomfortable during the game, just tap ❖ The Da Vinci Code Soundtrack this card to alert everyone else. You do not have to explain why. We will simply edit out anything X-Carded. If there is an ❖ Eyes Wide Shut Soundtrack issue, anyone can call for a break so things can be discussed ❖ The Insider Soundtrack privately. I know it sounds funny but it will help us play ❖ Notes On A Scandal Soundtrack amazing games together and usually I’m the one who uses the ❖ Penderecki: Orchestral Works by Krzysztof X-Card to protect myself from all of you! Thank you! Penderecki ❖ Titus Soundtrack The use of the X-Card will allow your group to explore disturbing elements without having to worry about Playing Safely pushing the story in bad places and undesired areas. Read more about the X-Card at tinyurl.com/x-card-rpg. This Adventure may touch on some of the darker aspects of the 7th Sea world, and thus might not be for all groups. Conspiracy stories and thrillers tend to have murder, THE [H] discrimination, and violence which might not be deemed As popularized in other Community Created Adventures, the welcome in the game for some groups. Alternately, stories use of the [H] reference is meant to give the Game Master a that explore the uneasy relationship between religion and means to dynamically modify the size of Villains and Brute evil might touch on uncomfortable parallels for some Squads for various group sizes. Wherever you see [H], replace it people. with the number of Hero characters in the Scene. In some places [H] will have a multiplier or divider (2[H] or ½[H]) or a base value (4+[H]). Before you start running this adventure for your group, be sure you discuss what kind of an Adventure, The Fall of If your players have a more combat savvy group, such as one Man offers and decide if it is the kind of story the group with at least one Duelist, consider doubling the Strength of one would enjoy. The adventure can still be run with the less or more Brute Squads, Monsters, or Villains. desired elements being toned down, or perhaps even merely portrayed as events happening “off-camera” so to speak.Sample Ultimately, the group’s personal sense of fun and file safety is paramount. 4 |The Fall of Man – Book One The Creator is all around you; his face is hidden in his works. The Book of Prophets, Volume I, Verse Seven Sample file 5 |The Fall of Man – Book One A HIDDEN COVENANT The “Church of Prophets,” one of the most powerful religions in Western Thèah, has fallen under the control of an organization that despises the fact that knowledge of the Prophet and the Grand Puzzle no longer remains solely in the minds and hearts of the worthy. The Vaticine Church is under the control of an inner circle known as the Covenant. What most know of the history of the Vaticine Church and the Prophets are based on information that the Covenant has permitted. While there are truths in the faith, there are key facts which have been obscured to support a version of the faith which the Covenant prefers. A version which places their own people as the chosen people of Theus and condemns their enemies to perpetual suffering in the Abyss. To understand the Covenant’s machinations requires one to understand first what truly transpired in history. And what the Covenant did to twist the “facts” to their liking.