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  THE CHABULI CONSPIRACY 
   
  AN ADVENTURE FOR THOUSAND SUNS
  
   
  2 
  C R E D I T S  
  Written by James Maliszewski 
  Edited by Ninja Editing Team 4 
  Art by Dani Kaulakis 
  Typography by Richard Iorio II 
  The Chabuli Conspiracy all contents is © 2008 by Rogue Games, Inc. All 
  rights reserved. No part of this adventure may be reproduced without 
  permission except small parts for review or scholarly criticism. 
  Published by Rogue Games, Inc. 
  Rogue Games’ Rogues are Richard Iorio II and James Maliszewski 
  Rogue Games, Rogue Games logo, Crest of the Thousand Suns, Thousand 
  Suns and the Thousand Suns Logo are TM and © 2008 by Rogue Games, Inc. 
   
   
   
   
   
  Games so good they sneak up on you.™
  
  3 
  T A B L E  O F  C O N T E N T S  
   
  T h e  C h a b u l i  C o n s p i r a c y ............................................................................. 4 
  I n t r o d u c t io n ................................................................................................... 4 
  A s s u m p t i o n s ................................................................................................... 4 
  T h e  P l a y e r  C h a r a c t e r s ............................................................................ 4 
  B a c k g r o u n d ..................................................................................................... 5 
  A r r i v a l  O n  S a v u u l ...................................................................................... 6 
  I n t o  T h e  C i t y ................................................................................................. 7 
  M u r d e r !.............................................................................................................. 8 
  E n t e r  T h e  L a w .............................................................................................. 8 
  I n v e s t i g a ti o n ................................................................................................. 9 
  T h e  E n c y c l o p e d i a  F o u n d a t io n .......................................................... 10 
  P e d e r s o n ' s  H o m e ....................................................................................... 11 
  A  F u n n y  F e e l i n g ........................................................................................ 13 
  F u r t h e r  I n v e s t i g a t i o n s ......................................................................... 13 
  The  Video .................................................................................................... 13 
  Chabuli A ntiq uities S muggling ...................................................... 14 
  R e t u r n  T o  T h e  F o u n d a t i o n ................................................................. 15 
  Pederson's Activities ............................................................................ 15 
  Chabuli A ntiq uities .............................................................................. 16 
  Aleksa ndra  Langlais............................................................................. 16 
  The  Cha se ................................................................................................... 16 
  Wha t Now? ................................................................................................. 17 
  A l e k s a n d r a  L a n g l a i s .............................................................................. 17 
  A f t e r m a t h ...................................................................................................... 19 
   
  
   
  4 
  T H E  C H A B U L I  C O N S P I R A C Y  
  INTRODUCTION 
  The Chabuli Conspiracy is an investigative adventure for use with 
  THOUSAND SUNS. Although complete in itself, owing to the nature of 
  the events described, many sections of the adventure are non-linear 
  and open-ended, allowing the Game Master the flexibility to tailor the 
  adventure to suit the nature of his campaign setting. The GM is thus 
  encouraged to make whatever changes he feels are necessary to make 
  this adventure fit the “reality” of his own campaign. 
  ASSUMPTIONS 
  This adventure takes place almost entirely on the planet Savuul in 
  Five Stars sector, described on pages 257-266 of the THOUSAND SUNS 
  rulebook. The information presented there forms the basis for what 
  occurs in this adventure, although the adventure expands upon some 
  of the details. The GM is therefore encouraged to become familiar with 
  those basic details before reading this adventure or attempting to use 
  it in his campaign. 
  Like THOUSAND SUNS itself, the interstellar government of which 
  Five Stars sector is part will be referred to simply as “the State.” 
  Individual GMs should, of course, substitute the name of whatever 
  interstellar state exists in their own campaigns, but the text of this 
  adventure remains mostly agnostic on the question of the larger 
  astropolitical scene beyond Five Stars sector. Consequently, some 
  sections of the adventure may need to be reworked slightly if the GM 
  has created a setting that is at significant variance from the options 
  presented in Chapter 7 of THOUSAND SUNS. 
  THE PLAYER CHARACTERS 
  The adventure, as written, assumes the characters are independent 
  operators without any long-term employment and who plan to stay on 
  Savuul for at least a couple of days. If this is not the case, the 
  adventure should work without the need for significant modification, 
  however. The only exception is if the characters are already 
  established as working for the Encyclopedia Foundation (see pages 
  250-251 of THOUSAND SUNS). Since the adventure depends heavily on 
  
  5 
  the Foundation’s being an unknown quantity to the player characters, 
  the GM may need to make more extensive changes to maintain the 
  flow of the adventure. Otherwise, player characters of almost any 
  background or species will work equally well with it. 
  BACKGROUND 
  Until the Year 400, the Chabuli Union governed the Garden Cluster of 
  Five Stars sector. The Union was a loose federation of worlds that was 
  slowly exploring and colonizing neighboring worlds. Then the Terrans 
  arrived 
  and 
  everything 
  changed. 
  A 
  series 
  of 
  diplomatic 
  misunderstandings, coupled with an attack on a Terran vessel by a 
  Chabuli starship – historians still disagree as to whether the attack 
  was sanctioned by the Union high command or not – resulted in a 
  brief war of conquest that left the Terrans in possession of Five Stars 
  sector. 
  Over the last century, the Terrans have made good use of the sector 
  and its worlds, colonizing many and setting up bases on others. Terran 
  megacorporations are very active in the sector, particularly in the 
  Garden Cluster, most of whose worlds were “under-populated” and 
  thus ripe for economic development. There can be little question that 
  the Terrans have poured massive resources into the worlds of Five 
  Stars and turned it into one of the jewels of the Marches.  
  Unfortunately, many Chabuli continue to see the Terrans as alien 
  occupiers. This is hardly surprising. The Terrans abolished the Union; 
  Terrans or their allies govern all worlds in the sector, even those with 
  majority Chabuli populations. Although the State long ago made 
  provisions 
  for 
  the 
  granting 
  of 
  citizenship 
  to 
  the 
  Chabuli, 
  implementation of these provisions has been repeatedly delayed.  
  The Civil War only made matters worse, as factions opposed to the 
  Loyalists encouraged Chabuli separatism to destabilize their political 
  opponents. Before long, several violent anti-Terran organizations 
  arose among the Chabuli, most notoriously the Baylarna Shuu Gej or 
  “Righteous Sword.”  The BSG is a terrorist group that seeks nothing 
  less than the expulsion or death of every Terran in the Garden 
  Cluster. After several high profile attacks on civilian targets and the 
  assassination of the Governor-General, the State placed the Cluster 
  under military rule for a time. Though civilian governance has since 
  been restored, many Terran officials continue to act as if it had not 
  been. Unsurprisingly, plans to grant the Chabuli citizenship have 
  
   
  6 
  been indefinitely shelved and so resentment against Terran rule 
  grows.  
  The majority of Chabuli do not support the methods of the BSG, but a 
  dedicated minority does. Many Chabuli have made efforts to bridge 
  the gap with the Terrans and this has met with some success. 
  Likewise, many Terrans, including some highly placed in the sector’s 
  administration, realize that no good can come of continuing to treat 
  the Chabuli as a conquered people without the same rights as other 
  species. And then there are some Terrans who believe it is their duty 
  to right past wrongs by aiding the BSG and other anti-Terran groups. 
  Consequently, the situation as of 500 N.C. is perilous, as various 
  forces both within and without struggle to determine the fate not only 
  of the Garden Cluster but also of Five Stars sector as a whole. 
  ARRIVAL ON SAVUUL 
  The Chabuli homeworld of Savuul (see page 263 of THOUSAND SUNS) 
  is a temperate, mountainous world with a standard oxygen-nitrogen 
  atmosphere. Because of the Chabuli’s low birthrate, the world’s 
  population is just shy of a billion sentient beings. Large swaths of the 
  planet’s surface are uninhabited, a fact that proved a powerful 
  enticement for Terran megacorporations looking to exploit Savuul’s 
  wealth of natural resources.  
  Over the last century, a small number of Terrans, close to 20,000, 
  have taken up residence here. The vast majority of them are employed 
  by either megacorporations or the State, with most of the latter being 
  military personnel who prop up the local colonial administration. The 
  lieutenant-governor of Savuul, Rajnaldo Huang, dwells at Government 
  House, located in Chamtai Tanil, the world’s capital city. Though he 
  sometimes appears aloof, Huang is in fact a thoughtful and personable 
  man well disposed toward the Chabuli. At the same time, he is a 
  realist who understands that the wheels of the State turn slowly, 
  particularly in Five Stars sector, where memories of the Civil War and 
  its aftermath have hardened the opinions of many Terrans and 
  Chabuli alike. 
  The player characters arrive at the Chamtai Tanil starport several 
  days after another wave of anti-Terran violence has rocked the capital 
  city. Several Terrans – and many more Chabuli – were killed in a riot 
  sparked by the arrest of a handful of prominent Chabuli leaders on 
  suspicion of involvement with the BSG. Since then, Terran police 
  
  7 
  forces have been supplemented with Naval Infantry troopers, turning 
  Chamtai Tanil into a powder keg awaiting the right spark to set it off. 
  Lieutenant-Governor Huang is preparing to host an open forum for 
  discussion of the matter with the public one day after the characters 
  arrive – a rare move by a Terran official and one his advisors caution 
  against because of the possible threat to his life. As one might expect, 
  the mood on Savuul is tense. 
  INTO THE CITY 
  At some point during their stay on Savuul, the player characters will 
  inevitably wander into Chamtai Tanil. When they do so, the GM 
  should carefully describe the city in terms that both reveal the 
  growing tensions between the native Chabuli and the Terrans and 
  that highlight the specific way the situation on this world reflects the 
  overall setting of his campaign. For example, if the State is a 
  pragmatic, laissez-faire federation, the situation on Savuul will appear 
  differently than if the State is a corrupt federation animated by 
  adherence to an ideology. This is an opportunity for each Game 
  Master to personalize Savuul and the plight of the Chabuli in his own 
  campaign setting. 
  One thing to bear is that, with the threat of further violence foremost 
  on everyone’s mind, Terran authority will not allow anyone, regardless 
  of species, to leave the starport bearing weapons unless they are 
  employed by law enforcement or the military. Consequently, the 
  characters will be required to leave behind any weapons they possess 
  before entering Chamtai Tanil. Characters are free to attempt to 
  starport officials to make an exception in their cases, using the social 
  interaction rules found on pages 122-126 of THOUSAND SUNS. The 
  default starport official has 30 Resolve and begins Unfriendly toward 
  the characters. Assume he has 6 in all relevant Abilities and 4 in all 
  relevant skills. 
  The adventure assumes the characters will, at some point, venture 
  into one of the many areas of the city where Terrans, even law 
  enforcement or soldiers, are uncommon. The exact nature of how and 
  why the characters might do this is left to each GM to determine. 
  Some possibilities include: seeking out Chabuli experts in some field, 
  pursuing a bileto offered by Chabuli looking to hire Terrans, or even 
  sightseeing in one of the old and picturesque neighborhoods of the city. 
  Once in a Chabuli neighborhood, the adventure can proceed as written 
  with little problem. 
  
   
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  MURDER! 
  Passing by an alleyway in a secluded part of the city, the characters 
  hear a voice call for help in Lingua Terra, followed by the sound of two 
  gunshots. If the characters investigate, they will see a single Chabuli 
  holding a 9mm automatic pistol and is kneeling down toward the body 
  of a male Terran, whom he has obviously shot at close range. The 
  Chabuli is rifling through the Terran’s clothing when he hears the 
  characters approach, stands up, and runs away from them at top 
  speed.  
  The Chabuli is simply a local criminal taking advantage of the recent 
  upswing in anti-Terran violence to shoot and rob a Terran, in the 
  belief that his crime might be mistakenly chalked up to something 
  other than mere armed robbery. He has no interest in fighting the 
  characters and will flee from them rather than engage them in 
  combat, if possible. At the same time, he will defend himself if 
  necessary and is reasonably skilled in the use of his weapon, while 
  (most likely) the characters will be completely unarmed.  
  If the characters do attack him, assume he has 35 Vitality, 6 in all 
  relevant Abilities, and 4 in all relevant skills. He wears no armor and 
  carries both his automatic pistol and a vibroblade. Capturing or killing 
  the criminal will almost certainly attract the attention of the colonial 
  constabulary or even Naval Infantry peacekeepers. This possibility is 
  dealt with below in the section entitled “Enter the Law.” 
  Whether the characters pursue the Chabuli criminal or not, there is 
  still the matter of the Terran whom he attacked. Unfortunately, the 
  criminal’s prey is dead from bullet wounds. The characters can make 
  use of his �afisto chip to learn that his name was Tankredo Pederson 
  and was employed by the Encyclopedia Foundation here in Chamtai 
  Tanil. The characters can also read contact information for Pederson’s 
  home and employer, but all other information on the chip is privacy 
  restricted. He is carrying nothing else of any obvious value beyond the 
  clothes he wears. 
  ENTER THE LAW 
  Unless the characters either did not draw attention to themselves (by 
  pursuing the Chabuli criminal, engaging in combat, etc.) and/or did 
  not report what they witnessed in the alleyway, they will have to deal 
  with the colonial constabulary, which is understandably concerned by 
  
  9 
  what might appear to be yet another instance of anti-Terran violence. 
  The colonial constables are mostly drawn from the local population, 
  with Terrans and a handful of Chabuli serving as their commanding 
  officers. The constables speak fluent, if accented, Lingua Terra and 
  treat any Terran characters with deference and politeness. At the 
  same time, their primary concern is the appearance of impartiality 
  and if the characters give any reason for the constables to believe they 
  behaved inappropriately, they will not hesitate to arrest them and 
  have them interrogated by their superiors at headquarters. 
  Once again, GMs are advised to use the interactions with the colonial 
  constabulary as an opportunity to play up the situation on Savuul. 
  These Chabuli are seen by many of their fellows as collaborators and 
  toadies of the Terrans, but most of them want nothing more than 
  good, respectable employment and to ensure that life in Chamtai Tanil 
  remains as peaceful as possible given the circumstances. By and large, 
  these are decent people who find themselves in a very stressful 
  situation – one made all the worse by recent events. 
  If the characters are cooperative and especially if they captured rather 
  than killed the Chabuli criminal, the constables are grateful to the 
  characters. They take the characters’ names and contact information 
  and advise them to remain on Savuul for the next few days in the 
  event that they should be needed to give further testimony to the 
  authorities. If the characters wish to contact the colonial constabulary, 
  they may do so, but they are told that further details of the case will 
  likely not be made available to them until after the investigation is 
  concluded and perhaps not even then. 
  INVESTIGATION 
  At this point, the characters have three choices. The simplest – and 
  the least interesting from an adventuring standpoint – is to resume 
  their original purpose on Savuul and forget the matter of the attack in 
  the alleyway. In this case, the adventure is effectively over, except 
  perhaps for the events described in “Aftermath” below, although the 
  characters are unlikely to realize that they are in any way connected 
  to the murder of a lone Terran. 
  The remaining two choices involve following up on information 
  gleaned from Tankredo Pederson’s �afisto chip. One possibility is 
  contacting the Encyclopedia Foundation in Chamtai Tanil, while the 
  
   
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  other is visiting Pederson’s home. Both of these possibilities are dealt 
  with in the following sections. 
  THE ENCYCLOPEDIA FOUNDATION 
  The local branch of the Encyclopedia Foundation is located in the 
  swanky neighborhood of Chamtai Tanil know locally as Manthjargal. 
  The neighborhood is favored by a variety of Terran businesses and is 
  the home to many Terrans. Government House is located here as well. 
  The Foundation branch maintains a large staff of Terrans and 
  Chabuli, led by Ifi�enia Mkombe, a middle-aged woman with a keen 
  interest in Chabuli antiquities. She is well regarded in the Garden 
  Cluster for the respect she has shown toward Chabuli sensibilities, 
  including her unwillingness to sponsor expeditions to areas the 
  Chabuli consider taboo, despite the flak she has received from others 
  in the Foundation. Mkombe believes that, while many of these areas, 
  in particular the Tebussum Bakan ruins on the southern continent of 
  Sayyisu, undoubtedly contain vital information about Chabuli 
  civilization, there is little to be gained by scandalizing these aliens any 
  further by digging up what they consider to be sacred ground. 
  If the characters approach the Foundation to ask about Tankredo 
  Pederson, Mkombe will say that the local constabulary had already 
  contacted her. She is saddened by the news, not just because Pederson 
  was a fine explorer, but also because he, like her, made great efforts in 
  pursuit of friendship with the Chabuli. She also explains that she was 
  surprised to discover that Pederson was back in Chamtai Tanil, as he 
  was supposed to have been in the third week of a month-long 
  expedition into the wilds of Tiatsit. Tiatsit is an island continent in 
  the Yavuulii Saihan Ocean, where no Chabuli has lived since 
  prehistoric times. Even though he was in regular contact with the 
  Foundation while on his expeditions, he never once intimated he 
  might return to the capital city ahead of schedule. 
  Mkombe can offer no explanation as to why Pederson returned home 
  ahead of time or why he had not yet contacted the Foundation about 
  it. She assumes that he might have found something in Tiatsit that he 
  thought important, but has no idea what that might have been. If 
  pressed, she says that Pederson maintained a theory that Chabuli 
  civilization actually began on Tiatsit before some catastrophe 
  destroyed it, with the survivors migrating to other continents to start 
  anew. Mkombe stresses that this theory has only minimal basis in 
  
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  what Terrans know of Chabuli history and is based primarily on 
  rather eccentric interpretations of Chabuli myths and legends – the 
  equivalent of treating ancient Greek tales about Atlantis as if they 
  were true. 
  Mkombe has very little else to add, but mentions that, if the 
  characters should discover anything further about Pederson’s death, 
  she would be very interested in knowing. She adds that the next issue 
  of the Transactions of the Encyclopedia Galactica Foundation (a 
  regular electronic periodical) will be dedicated to Pederson and his 
  work. 
  PEDERSON'S HOME 
  Tankredo Pederson lived in a condominium in the same Manthjargal 
  neighborhood as the Encyclopedia Foundation. He had lived there for 
  the last three years, having purchased it shortly after arriving on 
  Savuul. His apartment is currently under a police cordon, since it is 
  being searched for clues pertaining to his death. The characters will 
  have no way whatsoever to enter it, as no amount of persuasion, 
  intimidation, or outright bribery will convince the constables to let 
  them inside the apartment. Even were they to do so, there is very 
  little of immediate interest, since the majority of his personal effects 
  have been taken into police custody as possible evidence. 
  Fortunately, there are two other sources of potential information the 
  characters might encounter here. The first is the condominium’s 
  superintendent Venceslavo Hosler, an older Terran man who is quite 
  amenable to being “persuaded” to tell what he knows about Pederson 
  and his recent activities. If Hosler notices that the characters are 
  interested in Pederson’s apartment, he will make several broad hints 
  that he would share valuable information with them if they would 
  make it worth his while.  
  Hosler is interested only in money and would tell what he knows in 
  exchange for as little as 125$, although he initially asks for 500$. He 
  can be talked down through social interaction. His Resolve is 30, his 
  relevant Abilities are all 4, and his relevant skills are all 3. He starts 
  off Neutral toward the characters and will cut his bribe level in half 
  for every new level the characters push him from Neutral. 
  Hosler tells the characters that Pederson didn’t spend a lot of time in 
  his home. He traveled a lot for the Foundation, which the characters 
  ought to know already. When he was gone, though, sometimes people 
  
   
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  would come to his apartment anyway. These people were all Terrans 
  and they seemed to have the access code to let themselves in. On a 
  couple of occasions, Hosler watched these Terrans leave the 
  condominium complex, where they met with some Chabuli, “who 
  looked like terguun,” a Chabuli word meaning roughly “tough guys.” 
  Terguun is also the word used by Terrans to refer to Chabuli 
  criminals. Hosler does not know the names of either the Terrans or 
  the Chabuli, but he does have security videos of them as they entered 
  and left the complex. For an additional bribe of 100$ (subject to the 
  same rules as above), he 
  will provide a copy to the 
  characters 
  (see 
  “The 
  Video” 
  under 
  “Further 
  Investigations” below). 
  The 
  second 
  source 
  of 
  potential information is a 
  Chabuli colonial constable 
  named 
  Herhen 
  Shuleg. 
  Herhen 
  – 
  Chabuli 
  clan/family names come 
  first – may recognize the 
  characters if they had 
  previously 
  been 
  interviewed by the police 
  regarding 
  Pederson’s 
  murder. If so and if the 
  characters behaved well 
  during their interview, he 
  will approach them and 
  gently ask them why they 
  are in the condominium 
  complex. 
  Provided 
  that 
  the 
  characters 
  do 
  not 
  express any feelings that 
  suggest they are themselves up to criminal activity, Herhen takes 
  them aside to give them a push in the right direction. He tells them 
  that the constabulary is currently baffled as to why Pederson was in 
  the part of Chamtai Tanil where he was killed, since he was supposed 
  to be offworld at the time. Herhen believes that the answer to this 
  question may explain a great deal. 
  
  13 
  Herhen is reticent to say much more to the characters. However, if, in 
  the course of conversation, the characters should indicate by word or 
  deed that they are sympathetic to the situation of the Chabuli in the 
  Garden Cluster, Herhen will noticeably warm to them. He will add 
  that the constabulary believes that Pederson may have made money 
  selling protected antiquities to wealthy Terran buyers – antiquities he 
  acquired while on his various Foundation expeditions. A number of 
  these illegal artifacts have shown up on the black markets of several 
  worlds throughout Five Stars sector and many can be traced back to 
  locations where Pederson has been in the last year. There is no 
  evidence that he personally profited from these sales, though, but it is 
  also possible he was simply careful with how and when he was paid 
  for these sales. 
  A FUNNY FEELING 
  From this point on, the Game Master can ask the players to make 
  regular Observe Tests to notice that their characters are being 
  watched. Success indicates that the characters realize that someone is 
  taking notice of their movements, but they do not feel threatened, 
  which is to say, they do not sense an imminent attack upon them. 
  Achieving 3 or more degrees of success on two or Observe Tests 
  enables a character to notice that several Chabuli and a male Terran 
  are often in nearby crowds. Attempts to find these individuals will fail, 
  as they quickly disperse into the people thronging the streets of 
  Chamtai Tanil. Nevertheless, the characters are now aware that 
  someone is taking an interest in their activities. 
  FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS 
  At this stage, the characters now have several additional avenues for 
  investigation. Each of these possibilities is discussed here. 
  THE VIDEO 
  The security video Venceslavo Hosler gives the characters shows two 
  Terrans, a man and a woman, as well as three Chabuli. Without 
  assistance, identifying any of these people will be extremely difficult. 
  However, characters who succeed first at a Difficult Computers Test, 
  followed by a successful Technical Sciences Test will be able to 
  positively identify the woman as Aleksandra Langlais, another 
  employee of the Encyclopedia Foundation, whom they will have seen if 
  they visited the Foundation offices previously. Searches through back 
  
   
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  issues of the Transactions of the Encyclopedia Galactica Foundation 
  further reveal that she often accompanied Pederson on his 
  expeditions, though she rarely remained in the field for as long as he 
  did. In addition, the man and the Chabuli look familiar to any 
  characters who succeeded in multiple Observe Tests, as noted in “A 
  Funny Feeling” above. 
  The other individuals on the video cannot be identified without 
  assistance from someone who has access to criminal databases. If the 
  characters turn to the constabulary, such as Herhen Shuleg, or to 
  other contacts who can access databases of known criminals, they can 
  identify the remaining individuals. The Terran man is Rolando 
  Desteen, a convicted black marketer, and the three Chabuli are all 
  thugs associated with the BSG, including Taniln Shaar, who is wanted 
  for his role in the murder of a colonial constable six months ago.  
  A successful Investigation Test after obtaining this information will 
  reveal that Desteen arrived on Savuul approximately three days ago 
  but has been on and off the planet many times over the last year. This 
  is the first time he has been on the planet while Pederson has been in 
  Chamtai Tanil, suggesting that Pederson’s return was likely not 
  directly connected to Desteen’s arrival. 
  CHABULI ANTIQUITIES SMUGGLING 
  If the characters look into the smuggling of Chabuli artifacts, they will 
  discover (through the use of Investigation and related skills) that 
  there is a huge market in Five Stars sector for these items. The 
  Encyclopedia Foundation has used its influence to lobby that the 
  sector’s administration takes as dim a view of such activity as it does 
  toward any other such crimes. Unfortunately, there is very little 
  interest in doing anything that favors the Chabuli, so antiquities 
  protection laws are observed less stringently than they ought to be. 
  The Foundation’s journalists have written several exposés on this very 
  topic and the Foundation itself has tried to set a good example in its 
  own expeditions.  
  Nevertheless, wealthy Terrans frequently buy Chabuli artifacts and, 
  over the past two years, the number of artifacts available – and their 
  value – has increased significantly. The high quality of the artifacts 
  available suggests someone with ready access to them is involved and 
  most analysts surmised that members of the colonial administration of 
  the Garden Cluster must have been involved, although no evidence 
  
  15 
  could be found. There were also those who suggested that Chabuli 
  organized crime and terrorist groups might also have been engaging in 
  these activities to finance their operations, with only slightly more 
  evidence to back it up. 
  RETURN TO THE FOUNDATION 
  Eventually, the trail of clues will lead the characters back to the 
  Encyclopedia Foundation. There are three likely avenues of 
  investigation here, each of which receives its own sub-section below. 
  PEDERSON'S ACTIVITIES 
  If the characters have uncovered any evidence of suspicious activity by 
  Pederson before his death, they might present this to Ifi�enia Mkombe 
  to see her reaction. She will, of course, be shocked at first and claim 
  that there must be some mistake. She cannot imagine that Tankredo 
  Pederson could be involved in anything underhanded, let alone 
  criminal. However, after her initial reluctance to believe it, she will 
  begin to consider the possibility and reveal some additional pieces of 
  information to the characters. 
  First, Mkombe admits that Pederson did occasionally have dealings 
  with members of the Chabuli underworld on Savuul and elsewhere. 
  He never denied this and always claimed that he used these people in 
  order to get into places he might otherwise not be allowed to go. Some 
  of his greatest expeditions relied, at least in part, on winning the favor 
  of criminal groups who helped smooth ruffled feathers amongst local 
  Chabuli populations who might have otherwise objected. Mkombe 
  further admits that she sometimes wondered if maybe Pederson was 
  involved more closely with these criminals than he admitted, but tried 
  not to give it too much thought lest she realized how culpable the 
  Foundation might be in his activities. 
  Second, Mkombe says that, possible criminal activities to the contrary, 
  Pederson more than once in her presence expressed the opinion that 
  the Chabuli would never be better off until they rose up against the 
  Terrans and kicked them out of the Garden Cluster. Pederson claimed 
  the State did not understand anything other than naked force and, if 
  it took violence to make them see the plight of the Chabuli under their 
  administration, so be it. Of course, Pederson would laugh off these 
  statements when asked about them later, claiming his was being 
  hyperbolic, but they worried Mkombe nonetheless. 
  
   
  16 
  CHABULI ANTIQUITIES 
  Mkombe knows a fair amount about Chabuli antiquities smuggling, 
  pointing out that the Foundation has always opposed it and has 
  worked with both the Chabuli and the sector government to put an 
  end to the practice. Unfortunately, there is far too much profit in it for 
  it to be stopped completely and Terran authorities consider it a minor 
  matter compared to others and so give it limited attention. Mkombe is 
  not at all surprised to hear that organized crime and terrorist groups 
  are involved, since most of them care very little for Chabuli history, 
  preferring instead to squander their species’ heritage if it means they 
  can strike back against the hated Terrans. 
  The most valuable of these antiquities come from an unknown location 
  believed to be in the wilds of Savuul. They are valuable because, while 
  they look similar to most of the other ancient artifacts found on 
  Savuul – bowls, idols, tools and other implements, etc. – the materials 
  used are quite different. Typical Chabuli artifacts are made of highly 
  polished stone, whereas these rare ones are made from metal or 
  crystal and show a degree of precision that indicates the use of 
  advanced tools, far in advance of what most other ancient Chabuli 
  cultures possessed. It is artifacts like these that were used as 
  “evidence” of the Chabuli “Atlantis,” Tiatsit, which was an area of 
  interest to Pederson. 
  ALEKSANDRA LANGLAIS 
  The final topic of investigation is Tankredo Pederson’s associate 
  Aleksandra Langlais. The Foundation also employs Langlais as a 
  writer and editor. She has accompanied Pederson on several of his 
  expeditions, but generally remains on Savuul, where she assists 
  Mkombe in running the day-to-day operations of the local branch. As 
  with Pederson, Mkombe is initially shocked at the suggestion of 
  anything illicit about Langlais’s activities, but admits that, after all 
  that has transpired recently, she is not sure of anything anymore.  
  Langlais is currently in the Foundation building and has been warned 
  of the arrival of the characters. By the time they seek her out, she is 
  preparing to escape the building.  
  THE CHASE 
  Characters who seek out Langlais in her office will arrive just in time 
  to see her fleeing out the door. If the characters wish to catch her, they 
  
  17 
  must engage in a chase. Chasing is a series of opposed Athletics Tests. 
  Every degree of success by which a character beats Langlais lessens 
  her lead over that character, as she attempts to run away. Every 
  degree of success by which Langlais beats the closest character 
  increases her lead. Her initial lead is 5 paces. If her lead is reduced to 
  0, the characters have caught up to her and may attempt to grapple 
  with her to capture her. On the other hand, if her lead reaches 10 or 
  more, she has managed to get away from the characters successfully. 
  GMs are advised to be lenient in granting small bonuses to Target 
  Numbers if the characters offer good and plausible means by which 
  they seek to get closer to Langlais and end the chase. Treat Langlais 
  as if she has 6 in all relevant Abilities and 5 in all relevant skills.  
  If caught, Langlais will put up a fight to resist capture, using 
  Unarmed Combat. She will not risk permanent injury, though, and 
  will surrender if the odds are overwhelmingly against her.  
  WHAT NOW? 
  The next stage of the adventure depends heavily on whether the 
  characters capture Aleksandra Langlais or not. If they do so, they may 
  proceed to the next section below. If she simply eludes the characters 
  quickly, other avenues will become available and these are described 
  below. 
  ALEKSANDRA LANGLAIS 
  If caught and interrogated, Langlais requires little convincing to 
  reveal what she knows once the characters can assure her that they 
  are not working with the BSG. She explains that both she and 
  Pederson had become inadvertently entangled with Chabuli terrorists 
  and had been attempting to extricate themselves in recent days. 
  Although the Chabuli who killed Pederson was just a random criminal 
  looking to make a quick sol, Langlais believes that he was hired by the 
  BSG to kill Pederson. This is in fact not true but Langlais strongly 
  believes otherwise. She ran from the characters because she thought 
  the characters too had been hired to eliminate her. 
  Aleksandra Langlais borders on the hysterical at times, overwrought 
  at the murder of her friend and colleague Tankredo Pederson and 
  worried that the Encyclopedia Foundation might wind up being 
  implicated all that they have done for the BSG over the last two years, 
  not to mention what might occur in the near future.  
  
   
  18 
  Langlais relates the following in response to the character’s questions: 
  � Both she and Pederson were sympathetic to the Chabuli 
  situation in the Garden Cluster and made many contacts with 
  anti-Terran groups in the course of their expeditions to the 
  wilds of Savuul and other worlds in the Cluster. 
  � Through these contacts, they also met individuals, both 
  Chabuli and Terran, who helped open doors and smooth 
  relations with the colonial administration and local Chabuli, 
  so that they might gain access to archeological sites otherwise 
  restricted. 
  � As it turned out, some of these contacts were themselves 
  connected to the BSG, who threatened to expose Pederson and 
  Langlais’s involvement with them if they did not cooperate 
  with them. Cooperation took the form of passing to them 
  ancient Chabuli artifacts, which were then sold throughout 
  Five Stars sector to support BSG activities. 
  � Eventually, Pederson began to have doubts about his 
  cooperation with the BSG, particularly as it became clear the 
  organization was less interested in aiding the Chabuli than it 
  was in gathering power for itself. In addition, the BSG’s 
  involvement 
  in 
  the 
  assassinations 
  and 
  attempted 
  assassinations of Terran – and Chabuli – leaders whom it 
  considered enemies wore heavily on his conscience. 
  � The final straw came two days ago, when Pederson stumbled 
  upon a unique artifact in Tiatsit, one wholly unlike any he had 
  uncovered before. Pederson had very little time to study it but 
  was quickly convinced it was not Chabuli in origin at all but 
  the handiwork of the Travelers! Pederson had long suspected 
  that there might have been a Traveler presence on Savuul in 
  the past, but he had never been able to uncover proof until 
  now. Unfortunately, the BSG did not care about such things 
  and saw the Traveler artifact only as a chance for greater 
  profits for their cause. Their agents took it from Pederson and 
  returned to Chamtai Tanil to sell it to Rolando Desteen  
  � Distraught over how he had let an invaluable artifact fall into 
  the hands of terrorists, Pederson returned to Chamtai Tanil in 
  an attempt to get it back and wash his hands of his 
  involvement with the BSG. Langlais believed his death was 
  
  19 
  ordered by the BSG in retaliation, but, as the characters know, 
  it was purely accidental. 
  Langlais now says she wants nothing more than to turn herself into 
  the colonial constabulary and tell them what she knows, both to pay 
  for her mistakes and to ensure the good name of the Encyclopedia 
  Foundation is not besmirched by her actions or those of Tankredo 
  Pederson. She asks the characters to accompany her to act as her 
  bodyguard, since she still fears that the BSG or their agents will 
  attempt to kill her now that she has revealed her involvement with 
  them.  
  AFTERMATH 
  The Chabuli Conspiracy concludes once the characters have taken 
  Aleksandra Langlais into the custody of the colonial constabulary. No 
  one attempts to murder her and the information she provides is 
  invaluable in dealing with the BSG in the weeks and months to come. 
  Her actions eventually reach the ears of Lieutenant-Governor Huang, 
  who puts increased manpower into stopping the smuggling of Chabuli 
  artifacts off Savuul. Furthermore, Ifi�enia Mkombe uses this affair to 
  draw further attention to way that the Chabuli’s cultural past is being 
  stolen to finance groups that provide no benefit either to the Chabuli 
  species or to their cause in Five Stars sector. Though perhaps small in 
  the grand scheme of things, these actions nevertheless bring about 
  some positive change in the Garden Cluster and hope for the future. 
  This adventure leaves numerous loose threads from which inventive 
  GMs can spin their own follow-up adventures. A few possibilities 
  include: 
  � Just what was the BSG financing with the sales of the 
  Chabuli artifacts? Did they have some larger plot in motion 
  that must now be delayed because of the disruption in their 
  trafficking in these rare and valuable items? 
  � What became of Rolando Desteen? Did he escape Savuul and, 
  if so, is he still plying his illicit trade on other worlds of Five 
  Stars sector? 
  � What happened to the artifact that Tankredo Pederson 
  believed was of Traveler origin? Was he correct? If so, exactly 
  what might the artifact have been and does the individual 
  who now owns it realize what it is? Furthermore, if Pederson 
  
   
  20 
  was right, that means there may be a Traveler site located on 
  Tiatsit. What else might be found there and what might it 
  reveal about the prehistory of Savuul and the Chabuli 
  species? 
  � What happens at Lieutenant-Governor Huang’s open forum 
  with the public to discuss recent events? Is it successful or a 
  failure? Do the BSG attempt to disrupt it or perhaps make an 
  attempt on Huang’s life? 
  � Finally, the characters have now possibly made positive 
  contacts with both the Encyclopedia Foundation and the 
  colonial constabulary of Savuul. Both groups might turn to 
  the characters again in the future, using them as special 
  agents either on Savuul or one of the other worlds of the 
  Garden Cluster. 
  In conclusion, remember that THOUSAND SUNS is a game, and that it 
  goes differently for everyone who plays. Bon voyage! 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Thousand Suns/Thousand Suns The Chabuli Conspiracy.pdf