TEXT: RAVAGED EARTH
  RELICS & RUMORS #3
  EXCALIBUR * GOLD PLATES OF MORMON
  GOLDEN FLEECE OF THE ARGONAUTS
  GUNGNIR, ODIN’S SPEAR * HEART OF QIN SHI HUANG
  
  Ravaged eaRth
  Relics & RumoRs #3
  Product	Development		Sean	Preston
  Writing		“Weird	Dave”	Olson,	
  Eric	Avedissian	&	
  Sean	Preston
  Artwork		Adam	Shaw
  Layout		Joel	Kinstle	&	
  Sean	Preston
  Editing		Lyn	Harm
  Ravaged	Earth,	the	Ravaged	Earth	logo,	Reality	Blurs,	Relics	&	Rumors,	and	all	unique	
  characters,	creatures,	and	locations	are	copyright	2009,	2010	Reality	Blurs.	
  Visit	our	website	at	www.realityblurs.com	for	freebies,	downloads,	and	updates.	
  This	game	references	the	Savage	Worlds	game	system,	available	from	
  Pinnacle	Entertainment	Group	at	www.peginc.com.	Savage	Worlds	and	all	associated	
  logos	and	trademarks	are	copyrights	of	Pinnacle	Entertainment	Group.		
  Used	with	permission.	Pinnacle	makes	no	representation	or	warranty		
  as	to	the	quality,	viability,	or	suitability	for	purpose	of	this	product.
  
  Contents
  Excalibur
  1
  GoldPlatesofMormon
  6
  GoldenFleeceoftheArgonauts
  11
  Gungnir,Odin’sSpear
  16
  HeartofQinShiHuang
  22
  
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  1
  History
  Accordingtolegend,ExcaliburwasthebladeKing
  ArthurwasgivenafterthefabledSwordintheStone
  wasshatteredinbattle.Arthurreceivedtheenchanted
  ExcaliburfromtheLadyoftheLakeasatokenof
  Fey support of Arthur’s reign. Excalibur’s scabbard,
  alsoenchanted,protectedArthuraslongastheking
  woreit.Boththeswordandscabbardwerestolenby
  Morgan le Fay, Arthur’s half-sister, and though the
  swordwasrecovered,thescabbardwasnot.
  Thetruthisnotalwaysasitseems,andtheinfluence
  of the Martians on Earth’s past history cannot be
  overlooked.ThoughmostMartianshaveoftensought
  thedestructionofhumanity,someendeavoredtoaid
  mankindandcraftedpowerfulitemstoshapethefuture
  ofearthlycivilization.CertainMartiansmasqueraded
  ascreaturesofmythandfancyinthisway.
  Physical Description
  Excalibur is an exquisitely designed sword — a
  superlativeexampleofsixthcentury,Saxoncraftsmanship.
  Thereisfinescrollworkonthebladeandtheblood
  grooveissharp.Infact,theweaponlooksnewlyforged,
  andcouldbeeasilymistakenasareproductionbyan
  amateureye.Abitofleatherwrappedaroundthegrip
  showssignsofextremewear,asdoesthecopperring
  tiedtothepommel.
  Powers
  Excaliburisaverylight,strongbladethathums
  whenswung.Thedesignisdoneinaveryflowing
  fashion and the metal shimmers slightly when
  exposedtosunlight.Indaylight,theusermayuse
  itsreflectivenaturetohisadvantageandperform
  Agilitytrickswithitat+2.ItdoesStr+d8damage.
  ItiscraftedofpureAetheriumandholdsan
  edgethatcannotbedulled.ItisAP6and
  addsanextrad6damagewitharaiseona
  Fightingroll.
  The scabbard is made of
  Aetheriumaswellandisthe
  onlysheathcapableofproperly
  holdingExcalibur.Possiblyeven
  more powerful than the sword
  itself,itgiftsthewearerwithFast
  Regeneration.
  Its sister blade, Clarent, is
  ceremonialanddesignedformatters
  of state such as knighting and
  officiating,butisnolessdeadly.Itdoes
  Str+d8 damage , causes wounds that
  willnothealmagically,andisAP6.It
  is the Sword that Arthur pulled from
  thestone.Ifthrustintonon-living,solid
  matter, only someone with a Spirit equal
  toorgreaterthantheowner’smayremove
  it. The wearer’s command radius doubles
  whenthebladeisworn.ThosewithArcane
  Background(Magic)maychanneltheirenergies
  throughittoperformGreater Healingwitha
  successfulSpellcastingroll.Shouldthebladebe
  swungwithoutduethought(i.e.Berserk,Frenzy,
  orWildAttack),thebladeshattersafteritsnext
  successful strike. Repairing the blade is beyond
  present technological boundaries, but it can be
  restoredthroughmysticmeansoradvancedscientific
  know-howattheGM’sdiscretion.
  Excalibur
  
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  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Rumor & Speculation
  LegendhasitthatExcaliburwasreturnedtothe
  LadyoftheLakeuponArthur’sdeath.WhatLady?
  What Lake? Historians and scholars have never
  beenabletopinpointeither,orevenifandwhen,in
  fact,KingArthurevertrulyexisted.Manyputthis
  downtofancifulmythandfable,soseriousinquiry
  astothewhereaboutsofExcaliburhaveneverbeen
  fully explored – until recently. During the War of
  the Worlds, much damage was wrought upon the
  British countryside. Previously concealed ruins were
  uncovered, and Aetherium caused many scientific
  mindstoseriouslyreconsidertheunderlyingfactsof
  someofthesemyths.Weretheymagic?Werethey
  alientechnologies?Themostunlikelyofsponsors,the
  IMSR,isfundinganexplorationintoaremoteSiberian
  villagetofindanswers,andissendingtheheroes.
  Ravaged	Tale:	The	Excalibur	
  Question
  Overview
  TheNazishavebeenquestingforartifactstheworld
  over, and located the whereabouts of Excalibur on
  theisleofReichenauintheAbbeyofReichenau,a
  monasterydedicatedtotheVirginMaryandSt.Paul.
  Whentheypulleditfromtheheartstone,agreat
  keeningsoundarose.Excaliburhadbeenthrustdeeply
  intothemechanical heart of a beastthat had lain
  beneaththeChurchforcenturies.TheNazisfreed
  thebeastknownastheWyrm,anancientterraforming
  devicefromanotherage,andweredestroyedinan
  instant, turned into piles of salt, while the Rocket
  Rangers were made into its Harbingers. The heros
  mustfreetheRocketRangersandkeeptheWyrm
  fromcarryingouthisancientalienagenda.TheWyrm,
  however,expendedsomuchenergyinconvertingthe
  RocketRangersthathedepletedhisAethericreserves
  and needs to replenish his source. Presently, he is
  vulnerableandweak.
   Background
  TheIMSRknowstheRavaged,eitherbyaffiliation
  or reputation, and wants them to handle a field
  operationthattheycan’tundertakethemselves.Ideally,
  ifoneofthecharactersisamemberoftheIMSR,
  theorganizationcallsuponhimtodothegroupa
  favorthattheycan’tdothroughofficialchannels.The
  governmentneedsplausibledeniabilityintheevent
  thatanythinggoesawry,andifthingsgowell,they
  cannotcreditagroupofRavagedinanycase.This
  doesallowtheheroestheopportunitytomakestrides
  forwardfortheRavagedeverywhere,andgetachance
  toinvestigateanancientmyth.
  Here’swhatthescientistsknow.Inthepastmonth,the
  Germansweremodernizingsomeoftheirterritoriesin
  theoutlyingareaswheninterceptedradiotransmissions
  wentcompletelysilent.Fiveminuteslater,someonesent
  outadistresscallonthechannel,andthenwashearda
  greatroaring,followedbyanexplosionandscreaming.
  Asquadofrocketeerswasquicklydispatchedtothe
  areawheretheywitnessedtheaftermath–acompletely
  slaggedouttownwithonlyachurchstillstanding.
  When they went into the church, static filled the
  airwavesandthesignalweakened.Thelastreported
  transmissionsignaledbackonlyafinalsnippet,“...sword
  inastone?Areyoukid..?”beforeitwentdead.This
  wasthreedaysago.
  Wie Gehts?
  The heroes arrive in Konstanz, a small German
  townthatissomethingofananomaly.Itrestsonthe
  easternbankofBodensee(LakeConstance).Other
  thanthestripoflandalongthelake,thesurrounding
  territoryisSwiss.Konstanzispeculiarlyquiet,evenfor
  apastoraltown–therearefewpeopleonthestreets
  and they look fearfully at strangers. Professor Haas,
  fromBerlin,iswaitingforthematthelocaltavern.He
  isahaggard,hauntedlookingmanwithaslightlimp,
  whoisgreyingaroundthetemples.Hetellsthemhe
  heardanexplosionontheisland–hewasnervous
  whentheNazisarrivedthereanyway,andthenext
  nighthesawabeamofamberlightshootoutof
  thecenteroftheisle,fromtheAbbey.Thefollowing
  morningtheislandwasaflame,andhorriblyburned
  andtwistedcorpseswherefoundfloatinginthewaters.
  Noneofthefishermanwhofoundthebodieswere
  harmed,thoughHaasdetectedaveryhighradiation
  levelonthem.Hesaysitcouldonlybeattributedto
  
  	
  ExCALiBUR
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  3
  anextremedosageofunfilteredAetheriuminanuclear
  state,asthoughthevictimswerebathedinthestuff.
  Hewantedtogototheisland,buttheHarbingers
  haveforbiddenit.
  Justthenthedoorsopen,andtheHarbinger,Emissary,
  enters.
  “I am Emissary. I speak on behalf of 
  the Wyrm. Your presence here is neither 
  requested nor desired, and will not be 
  tolerated. In his great benevolence, the 
  Wyrm grants you leave to return to your 
  homes and await the Great Change. I am 
  permitted to field any questions you may 
  have. The Wyrm is unafraid of you, and 
  laughs at how little you’ve learned over 
  the centuries.”
  Ifthecharactersaskanyquestions,theWyrmfully
  possesses the Emissary. His body flickers with blue
  energies as he floats into the air, limbs akimbo. In
  thisstateasthepossessor,theWyrmisinvulnerable.
  He answers any questions in the first person, but
  beginswithsomethinglike...”IamtheWyrm,Creator
  ofWorlds.IamyourVishnu,yourApocalypse,your
  Flood,yourRebirth.IamyourEden,andIamyour
  Alpha and Omega. I am part of the Three. I am
  eternal.Iameverlasting.”
  He answers questions with alien honesty and
  aplomb.Intruth,heisamalfunctioningdeviceofthe
  highesttechnologicalorder.Heneverreferstohimself
  asamachinehowever,onlyastheWyrm.TheGreat
  Changeistopreparehischildren(theMartians)for
  theirreturntoEarth.HeexplainstheGreatChange
  isnotthefirsthe’sperformedonEarth,butthemost
  recent.Anyfurtherinformationorallusionsareatthe
  GM’sdiscretion,butmayhintatthepresenceofthe
  WyrmandtheThreethroughoutthehistoryofEarth,
  andtheirroleinshapingmankind.
  Shouldanycharacterattack,theWyrmvanishesand
  Emissaryexplainstothemthatphysicalconfrontation
  isoutsideofhisparameters,buttheotherHarbingers
  willbemorethanhappytoaccommodatehim.Heis
  easyenoughtobeatdown,andwithinthesmoking
  huskofashell,liesthebrokenremainsofaRocket
  Ranger.
  Professor Haas is unshaken throughout this entire
  exchange,onlyremarkingthattheyshould,perhaps,
  finishtheirbeersbeforetheyproceedtotheisland.
  The Smolders
  Getting to the island can be achieved through
  anymeansatthecharactersdisposalorthroughthe
  mundaneuseofrowboats.Thelatterwayistheleast
  likelytobedetected,andtheislandiseasilyreached.
  Itisstillsmoldering,andallofthestructuresarein
  ruin,savefortwo.TheAbbeyandtheChurchof
  SaintGeorge.Theheroesencountersomeofthelocal
  citizenryshamblingabout–theyhavebeeninfected
  withAetherpoisoning,becomingzombiesineffect.
  When put down, the A-Zombie infects the earth
  with Aetherium, and also turns other people into
  A-Zombies as well. This may be the first tangible
  proofofthedangersofAetheriumtheheroshaveever
  faced.Donotdiscounttheroleplayingpossibilities.
  OutsideoftheAbbeystandtwooftheHarbingers.
  Theyareasstillasstatues,reactingonlyiftheheroes
  takeaggressiveactiontowardthemortheAbbey.
  LightscanbeseenwithintheChurch.Ifapproached,
  thesoundofsoulfulchantingcanbeheardfromwithin.
  The Church
  WithintheChurchisBrotherSturgeon;heisthe
  onlyonetosurviveinthewholetown.Theexposure
  tothedeadlyradiationtransformedhimintooneof
  theRavaged,grantinghimtremendousStrengthand
  Toughness,andgivingaruddygoldenglowtohisskin.
  Heopensthedoorwhentheheroesapproach,ashe’s
  beenkeepingakeeneyeoutforanysurvivors.
  “Come in. It’s dangerous out there. The 
  end times are upon us, I fear. I could not 
  save the Father, and the Father could not 
  save the flock. And look at me. I cannot 
  leave. I cannot endanger others. Now I sit 
  here and pray for a miracle. Perhaps you 
  are that miracle? There is a legend you 
  see. Would you like to hear it?”
  The Legend of the Order
  “We are a very small order, lost and 
  forgotten, shoved out of sight, but that 
  is of little import. Our order, you see, 
  
  4
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  was founded to slay dragons. I and my 
  brothers, the rest of the order, took it to be 
  allegorical, that dragons represented sins 
  and evil and so on. It turns out, we were 
  wrong. I’ve seen a dragon, and it saw me. 
  We were all doing our daily chores when it 
  breathed flame upon us. Most of us died 
  instantly, but I survived, as did the building. 
  Everything else turned to ruins, and burns 
  even still. Enough about me. Now to the 
  story proper.
  Saint George was given a sword by the 
  angels to fight back the dragons whenever 
  they arose, in whatever form they took. 
  The angels told him the dragons came 
  in many forms, and were the spawn of 
  Satan. He used the sword to put the 
  dragon down, and was taught the secret 
  of the Spirit Lock. He could not pass on this 
  secret, for the angels forbade him to do so, 
  but he whispered the secret into his blade. 
  The blade of St. George, that later came 
  to be known as the sword, Excalibur. We 
  knew this sword was in the Abbey located 
  on this very isle, and we kept an agent 
  here to keep an eye on it, until our order 
  dwindled down to only this one. We knew 
  that to remove the blade from the heart 
  stone was expressly forbidden without first 
  slaying the dragon. To us, that meant, the 
  sword represented the Key to Heaven on 
  Earth, for the dragon represented our evils 
  and our sins. We knew we would never 
  touch it in our lifetime. This sword must 
  be returned to the heart stone before the 
  dragon grows too strong. Will you do it?”
  The Abbey
  TheAbbeyiscurrentlythehomeoftheHarbingers.
  Twoareoutside,andtwopatrolinside.TheAbbey
  looksrelativelyunchanged,butintruthithasbeen
  reconstructed. Careful examination reveals that the
  building is stronger, and the components look new
  — brass door handles sparkle and are unscratched,
  leather-seated pews look unused, and so on. The
  Wyrm rebuilt the Church after the energies of his
  awakeningdestroyedthestructure.Theheartstone,
  setinthebasementoftheChurch,lookstobean
  ancient amalgamation of gears and wires. Someone
  with scientific knowledge would realize that it is a
  transmitterorbeaconofsomesort.Thereisarecessed
  slotinthesideoftheheartstonewheretheswordcan
  slidein.Aninvisibleenergyfieldkeepsanyonefrom
  manipulatingit,andonlytheswordissettotheproper
  resonancefieldtopenetrateit.
  Should the characters return the “sword” to the
  “stone”,theheart-stonesinksintotheearth,andapair
  ofmetaldoorsslideinplaceoverit.Thereisaseriesof
  Martiancodesonthedoors,thatcanbemanipulated
  toopenthemagain,butthatisanotherstory.
  Catacombs
  Thecharactersmaywellpursuethedirectapproach
  andfighttheHarbingersfirstbeforegoingintothe
  Catacombs,buttotheCatacombstheymustgo.They
  canbeaccessedonlybeneaththeChurch.TheNazis
  blewuptheconnectingtunnelsbetweentheChurch
  andtheAbbeywhentheyuncoveredtheheartstone.
  In the Catacombs, the characters fight a number
  ofA-Zombiesthattookrefugeinthetunnelsbefore
  reachingtheSwordintheStone.Anincrediblebrawny
  Rocket Ranger lies dead near it. Should anyone
  approach,theRocketRangerrisestohisfeet.Hiseyes
  glowwithapalebluelight.
  “I am designated unit XCLBR. This man 
  gave his life to hide us here. In accordance 
  with the probability matrix, I have 
  maintained a stand-by mode awaiting 
  someone to wield me. The energies that 
  enable my high-level performance abilities 
  are already diminishing. Free energy nets 
  have yet to be established, I fear. Return 
  me to the transceiver unit — err, the heart 
  stone — so I can resume a scrambling 
  mode immediately. Engaging the Wyrm 
  directly is ill-advised at present. The time is 
  not yet right for direct assaults. Patience, 
  dear boy, patience. For more details, seek 
  out designated unit MRLN.”
  It winds down, and the Rocket Ranger collapses
  inertlytotheground.
  
  	
  ExCALiBUR
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  5
  HARBinGER
  Appearingasacopperymetalangel,aHarbinger’s
  eyesglowahellishred.
  Attributes:Agilityd8,Smartsd8,Spiritd10,Strength
  d10,Vigord10
  Skills:Fightingd10,Intimidationd10,Noticed10
  Charisma:0;	Pace:6;	Parry:7;	Toughness:7
  Hindrances:Obligations(Major)
  Edges:Brawny,StrongWilled,Flight10”
  Gear:FlamingSword(Str+d10)
  notes: The Harbingers are the missing Rocket
  Rangers. They have been converted by the Wyrm
  intothralls,andarelittlemorethanshells,extensions
  oftheWyrm.However,heexpendedsuchagreatdeal
  ofenergythatheneedstocollectadditionalAetheric
  reserves,beforehecanbeginhisplans.Forthepresent,
  theWyrmisweakandvulnerable,andnotlookingfor
  aconfrontation.
  A-ZOmBiE
  Humans exposed to high doses of Aetherium
  frequentlycomebackasA-Zombies,ravenousundead
  thatcontinuetoradiateAetherium.Scientistsspeculate
  that A-Zombies are part of the Martian plan to
  contaminateEarthinhopesofonedaycolonizingit.
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd8,Spiritd8,Strength
  d6,Vigord8
  Skills: Fighting d6, Guts d6, Intimidation d10,
  Investigationd8,Noticed8,Shootingd8,Streetwise
  d8,Tauntd6
  Charisma:0;	Pace:6;	Parry:5;	Toughness:7
  Special	Abilities:
  •Claws:Str
  •Fearless: Zombies are immune to Fear and
  Intimidation
  •Undead:+2Toughness.+2torecoverfrombeing
  Shaken.Calledshotsdonoextradamage(exceptto
  thehead).
  •Weakness	 (Head): Shots to an A-Zombie’s
  headare+2damage.
  
  6
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Throughouttheages,thehumanracehassoughtto
  makesenseoftheuniverse.Manytimesovertheyears
  thishasbeenexpressedthroughreligionandbeliefin
  ahigherpower,insomegranddesigntotheworld.
  Oftentimesthisfaithcomesfromstrangeoreven
  supernaturalsources.SuchisthecasewiththeChurch
  ofLatterDaySaints–betterknownasMormonism
  –andtheGoldPlatesofMormonthatserveasthe
  foundationoftheirreligion.
  History
  ThehistoryoftheGoldPlatesofMormongoes
  backmanyhundredsofyearsandrecountsthestories
  of ancient American civilizations. The plates are a
  chronicleofeventswrittenprimarilybyMormon,a
  prophet-historianofthelostraceofpeopleknown
  astheNephites.Someoftheinformationalsocomes
  fromhisson,Moroni,whowasthelastoftheNephite
  prophets.
  ThedetailscontainedwithintheGoldPlatesspan
  a time frame between roughly 600 B.C. and A.D.
  400, but it wasn’t until much later that the world
  becameawareofthem.Itwasapoorsonofafarming
  familyintheNewYorkareanamedJosephSmith
  Jr.,who–undertheguidanceoftheAngelMoroni
  –wasdirectedtotherelicsin1823.Buriedinahill
  calledCumorahnearManchester,NewYork,Smith
  uncoveredtheGoldPlatesin1827afterfouryearsof
  annualvisitsandcommandmentsfromtheangel.
  The announcement of the ancient golden book
  attracted many types of people to Smith, but the
  youngmanexplainedthattheAngelMoroniforbade
  anyonebuthimselffromgazingupontherelicuntila
  laterdate.SmithandhiswifemovedtoPennsylvania
  wherehebegandiligentworkontranslatingthehistoric
  record,whichwaswritteninastrangelanguagehe
  called“reformedEgyptian.”
  Gold	Plates	of	mormon
  
  	
  GOLD	PLATES	OF	mORmOn
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  7
  Thetranslationprocesstookthebetterpartoftwo
  years,duringwhichSmithwouldgazeupontheGold
  Platesthroughaseerstone.Intheearlypartofthis
  processhedictatedthetranslationtohisfriendMartin
  Harris,whoquicklybecameaconverttothereligious
  teachingsspelledoutbythegoldenrelic.Harris’wife,
  however,wasnotconvincedanddemandedtoseethe
  earlytranslation.
  Smith reluctantly agreed, and Harris showed his
  wifethefirst116pagesofwhattheyhaddeciphered
  sofarfromtheGoldPlates.Afterwardthosepages
  mysteriously vanished. Neither Harris nor his wife
  could explain the disappearance, and the Angel
  MoronitookbacktheGoldPlatesaspunishmentfor
  the transgression. When they were returned several
  months later, Smith could not translate the original
  116pagesagain,insteadtakinganabridgedversionof
  theirdetailscontainedlaterinthetext.ThoughMartin
  Harriswasnotaskedtoreturnasscribe,heremaineda
  devoutfollowerofSmithandhisteachings.
  In 1829 Joseph Smith completed the translation,
  which formed what would later become known as
  TheBookofMormon.AccordingtoSmithhimself,
  however,aportionoftheGoldPlateswassealedand
  contained“arevelationfromGod,fromthebeginning
  oftheworldtotheendingthereof.”Theexactdetails
  ofthissealedportionofthegoldenbookhasnever
  beenfullydisclosed,thoughrumorspersistthatthe
  truthbehindthemhasbeenrevealedtocertainhigh-
  rankingmembersoftheMormonChurch.
  After the translation was complete, but before
  returningtheGoldPlatestotheAngelMoroni,Smith
  wasgivenpermissiontoshowtherelictoagroupof
  witnesses.TheThreeWitnessessawitfirstinSmith’s
  home, and upon returning the Gold Plates to the
  Cumorahhillinmid-1829anothergroupcalledthe
  EightWitnessesclaimedtohavegazedupontheholy
  plates.
  Cumorahisnowaholymissionarysitewherethe
  Mormonsprotecttheareafromthievesandrobbers.
  AretheGoldPlatesstillcontainedsomewhereinthat
  NewYorkhill?It’spossible,buttheMormonscertainly
  aren’tspeakingonthesubject.
  JosephSmithJr.wentontoformtheChurchof
  Latter Day Saints based on the religious teachings
  containedwithintheGoldPlatesofMormon.The
  BookofMormonformedthebasisofthisreligion,
  which carried the new church from New York to
  IllinoistotheGreatSaltLakeValleyinpresent-day
  Utah. The Mormons there called their new home
  DeseretandwereledbyBrighamYoung,aninfluential
  prophet and high-ranking leader of the Church of
  LatterDaySaints.
  Thechurchanditsmembersarestillstrongactivists
  in1936,wieldingconsiderablepowerwithinthestateof
  Utahandspecificallyitscapital,SaltLakeCity.These
  peopletracetheirlivesandfaithbacktotheoriginal
  GoldPlatesofMormonfoundbyJosephSmithJr.
  overacenturyago,andthisfaithhassustainedthem
  throughtheyears.
  Physical Description
  SincetheoriginalGoldPlatesofMormonwereseen
  byonlytwelvewitnesses,findinganexactdescription
  oftherelicshouldbeeasy,butitisquitethecontrary.
  Eachofthetwelvewitnessesdescribesthebookin
  slightlydifferentmanners,addingtheirownreligious
  experiencesupongazinguponthewrittenwordsof
  ancientAmericanprophets.Themostcommonthread
  amongstthedescriptionsisthatitwasastackofthin
  goldsheetslikeleavesboundtogetherbythreelarge
  silverringstoformaroughbinding.Thesheetswere
  describedas“goldenastheraysofthedawningsun,”
  thoughexactaccountsvary.
  TheGoldPlateswerewrittenin“reformedEgyptian,”
  adeadlanguageusedbytheancientNephitepeople.
  Joseph Smith was only able to translate the book
  throughtheaidofaseerstone,whichallowedhimto
  dictatethewordstoascribe.
  Powers
  ThepoweroftheGoldPlatesofMormoncomes
  primarilyfromthedetailedhistoricaccountcontained
  withinitsgoldenpages.Anyonewhogazesuponthis
  powerfulreligiousrelicmustmakeaSpiritroll;those
  whofailareblindedfor1d6minutesbyaflashof
  holylight.
  
  8
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  PossessionoftheGoldPlatesrepresentsahugeboost
  inthepoweroffaith.Anyonewhoholdsthebook
  gainstheabilitytoutilizethefollowingpowers:Armor
  (cocoonedinagoldenwarmth),Boost Trait: Spirit
  (therecipientradiatesaholyaura),Healing(passthe
  goldenlighttotherecipient),andSmite(speakwith
  theWordofGod).Theseabilitiesareusedwitha
  Faithd12skillcheck.ReadingtheGoldPlatesisnot
  necessarytoutilizethesepowersandtheyfunction
  otherwiseliketheArcaneBackground(Miracles)edge.
  If the possessor ever disobeys one of the
  CommandmentsetforthbytheprophetsMormonand
  Moronihemustdisavowlookinguponortouching
  therelicforaperiodofnolessthanoneweek.Ifthe
  transgressordisobeysthiscommand,theAngelMoroni
  cursestheperson,permanentlyloweringhisSpiritdie
  typebytwopoints.Ifthisdropsthedietypebelow
  d4thepersondiesamosthorribledeath,hissoul
  damnedbyhisunhealthyactionstowardthewordof
  God.
  Rumor & Speculation
  The most pressing question regarding the Gold
  Plates is the contents contained within the sealed
  portion.JosephSmithdidnotbreakopenthisportion
  ofthetext,andsoitisnotcontainedinTheBookof
  MormonthatformsthebackboneoftheChurchof
  LatterDaySaints.Theonlyinformationprovidedby
  theAngelMoroniwasthatitcontained“arevelation
  fromGod,fromthebeginningoftheworldtothe
  endingthereof”–whichcouldmeanalotofthings.
  TheMormonChurchisheadedbyaPresident,but
  behindhimisasecretivegroupcalledtheQuorum
  oftheTwelveApostles.Isitpossiblethesepowerful
  menandwomenknowthesecretscontainedinthis
  sealedportion?Arecentsurgeinmissionaryactivities
  inCentralAmericamaybeakeytothismystery.
  Ravaged	Tale:	The	Lost	Leaves	
  of	Lehi
  Manypeoplelivinginthepost-Martianinvasion
  worldof1936knowthattruthisstrangerthanfiction.
  Lessknown,however,isthatfaithcanbestrangerthan
  truth,andnowhereisthismoretruethanthehistory
  spelledoutinTheBookofMormonastranslatedfrom
  theGoldPlates.Whenonereligiouszealotclaimsto
  have found a copy of the lost 116 pages of The
  BookofLehi,itbecomesaraceagainstmanypowerful
  forcestosetrightthecourseofhistory.
  Background
  Joseph Smith Jr. translated the Gold Plates of
  Mormonfromroughly1827through1829.Duringthis
  timehewasaidedbyseveralscribes,thefirstofwhom
  wasMartinHarris.Harris’wifedidnotbelieveinthe
  workbeingdonebythemen,andaskedforproofof
  theirdiligenceandlatehours.Aftermuchpestering,
  SmithreluctantlygaveHarriswhattheyhadtranslated
  sofartoprovetohiswifethevalidityoftheirwork.
  These 116 pages were subsequently lost under
  mysteriouscircumstances,andtheAngelMoronitook
  backtheGoldPlatesfromSmith.Whentherelicwas
  returnedtoSmithforcontinuedtranslation,hewas
  notallowedtore-dothelostworkforpenance.The
  irretrievablepageswerethewritingsofLehi,whowas
  the father of Nephi the prophet , and collectively
  knownasTheBookofLehi.
  SmithwasabletotranslatethefirstportionofThe
  BookofNephiwhichcontainedanabridgedversion
  ofTheBookofLehi,butthedetailscontainedtherein
  werescarce.Lehi’sbookcoveredthefamily’sexilefrom
  Jerusalem and trek across the Arabian Peninsula in
  greaterdetail–includingcrypticcommentsabouta
  “shipmadeofsteelandsilverthatsailednotonwater”
  thattheyfollowedatnight.Lehimetthevisitorsfrom
  this“water-lessship”andwasshownthepathtothe
  PromisedLandwiththeiraid.
  Allofthesedetailswere“lost”byMartinHarris’wife,
  whohidtheminasecretpanelofHarris’traveling
  trunk.Soonafterward,thetwoweresplit,whereupon
  MartintookthetrunkandfollowedSmith.Eventually
  thetrunkwassoldtoafurniturestore.Itsubsequently
  passedthroughmanyhandsuntil,throughaccidentof
  fate,itcameintothepossessionofElderCalebDosker,
  ahigh-rankingmemberoftheMormonChurchin
  SaltLakeCity.
  ElderCalebmadetheincrediblediscoverymostly
  byaccidentinearly1936.Hequicklyrealizedwhathe
  
  	
  GOLD	PLATES	OF	mORmOn
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  9
  hadfoundandwasfascinatedbyLehi’sdescriptionof
  thetribe’sjourneythroughtheArabianPeninsulaand
  beyond.Unfortunately,Calebhadgrowndisenchanted
  withtheChurchofLatterDaySaintsanddecidesto
  publishtheworkonhisown.
  Heonlyhasfundingforabatchoftwentycopiesthat
  hehasasmallpublisherinNewYorkCitycomplete.
  Somehow the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
  receivesnewsofthepublication,andtheyactquickly.
  SendingmembersoftheDanites–theMormonsecret
  policedatingbacktothemob-filledyearsinMissouri
  andIllinois–thesituationisverynearlyresolved.Elder
  Calebisimprisoned,andcopiesofthebook,entitled
  TheLostLeavesofLehi,areconfiscated.
  Exceptforone...
  Big Things in Small Packages
  Whetherbyaccidentordesign,oneoftheheroes
  istherecipientofacopyofElderCaleb’sTheLost
  LeavesofLehi.Aherowithanacademicbackground
  orstandingispreferred,butElderCaleb’sconnections
  rangefarandwide,sohecouldbeaheroofanytype.
  Thechosenheroandhiscompanionsareenjoying
  lunchwherevertheyarewhenacourierdropsoffthe
  packageonesunnyafternoon.
  Thecontentsofthesmallpackagearewrappedin
  plainbrownpaperboundwithstring.Thehero’sname
  andaddressisclearlyspelledoutonthefrontwithno
  returnaddress.Openingitrevealsathinpaper-bound
  book roughly 100 pages thick with its title plainly
  spelledoutonthecover.Therearenoillustrationson
  thecoverorinside.
  Writteninsidethecoverisanoteaddressedtothe
  hero.Itreads:
  “If you are reading this it means my 
  mission has been a success and they did 
  not get all copies. Please take this book to 
  Apostle Ephraim Van Wicke in Salt Lake 
  City – he will know what to do. Trust no 
  one. God watch over all of us! –Elder Caleb 
  Dosker”
  Heroeswiththeappropriatebackgroundintheology
  can make a Common Knowledge check at -4 to
  identifythebookbyitstitle;aMormoncharacter
  receivesnopenaltyontheroll.Skimmingthebook
  takesanhourafterwhichtheherohasgleanedits
  details–thatitisanaccountofLehi,fatherofNephi,
  aroundtheyear600BC,followingthefamily’sjourney
  throughtheArabianPeninsulafromJerusalemtothe
  “PromisedLand.”Thelastpagesdetailtheirarrivalina
  verdantlandoflushjunglesintheshadowoftheStar
  RockMountain.
  Seeking Apostle Ephraim
  Heroes can make inquiries as to the identity of
  ApostleEphraimVanWicke,aidedbytheknowledge
  thatheissomewhereinSaltLakeCity.Bytitlealone
  theyshouldassumeheispartoftheMormonChurch,
  andthisassumptionwouldbecorrect.Heisinfacta
  memberoftheQuorumoftheTwelveApostles,the
  shadowgovernmentbehindboththechurchandthe
  stateofUtah.
  EphraimVanWickeisapowerfulandveryspiritual
  man.AfirmbelieverintheteachingsofTheBookof
  Mormon,EphraimgainedtheacquaintanceofElder
  Calebmanyyearsagowhentheyattendedseminary
  together.HecurrentlylivesandworksinSaltLakeCity,
  whichanInvestigationrollcanquicklydetermine.
  The Danites Are Coming
  Unfortunately, the Danites are in the process of
  trackingthelastcopyofElderCaleb’spublishedwork,
  andtheyareveryefficient.Theirencounterwiththe
  heroescanhappeninoneofseveralpossibleways.
  Iftheheroeswaitmorethanafewdaystotravelto
  SaltLakeCity,theDanitesshowuptokicktheirbutts
  intogear.Otherwisetheycanattempttoambushthe
  heroesontheirwaytoUtah;eitherwaytheirtactics
  arethesame.
  Theheroesareapproachedbyayoungmanwearing
  plainclothesandcarryingacopyofTheBookof
  Mormon.HeintroduceshimselfasDeaconJohnand
  asksiftheheroeshavebeenintroducedtotheChurch
  ofLatterDaySaints.Whiletheirattentionisonhim,
  a group of Danites (one for each hero) sneak up
  behindandtrytobludgeontheheroesintosubmission.
  DeaconJohnhelpsoutwithhisFaithpowers,which
  somehowcontinuetofunctiondespitehisactions.…
  
  10
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  The Danites are fiercely loyal to the Church of
  LatterDaySaintsandwillstopatnothingtoretrieve
  TheLostLeavesofLehi.Theirdevotionextendsto
  thepointofswallowingcyanidecapsulesifcaptured.
  Evenifoneissomehowcaptured,herefusestospeak
  underanycircumstances,voluntarilybitingoffhisown
  tongueifthesituationpresentsitself.
  The Next Steps of the Journey
  Theheroes’arrivalinSaltLakeCityandeventual
  meetingwithApostleEphraimareleftuptotheGM
  todevise.MeetingamemberoftheQuorumofthe
  TwelveApostlesisnoeasyfeat,andtheheroesmay
  havetoresorttounconventionalmeans.Thereisa
  hiddenanti-churchmovementinSaltLakeCitythat
  couldassistthem.
  ThequestionaboutApostleEphraimVanWicke’s
  loyaltiesislefttotheGM.Hecaneitherbeafriend
  orfoe,andevenifhestartsasanallyhecaneasily
  becomeanopponentinthefuture.
  Iftheheroesareinterested,it’spossiblethatApostle
  Ephraimdecidestofundasecretexpeditionfollowing
  thepathlaidoutinthelost116pages.Hedoesn’t
  thinkit’ssafejustyettogopublic,butiftheywereto
  verifythestoryofLehi…?Wherethisjourneyleads
  isamystery–perhapstoCentralAmerica,perhapsto
  astrangelandinthecenteroftheearth….
  DAniTE	EnFORCER
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd4,Spiritd8,Strength
  d10,Vigord8
  Skills: Fighting d10, Intimidation d8, Notice d6,
  Streetwised6
  Charisma:-2;	Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:6
  Hindrances:DarkSecret(secretMormonpolice),
  Loyal(MormonChurch)
  Edges:CombatReflexes,Frenzy
  Gear:Club(Str+d4),blackclothing,blackmask
  (WC)	DEACOn	JOHn,	DAniTE	
  LEADER
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd8,Spiritd10,Strength
  d6,Vigord8
  Skills:Faithd10,Fightingd8,Gutsd10,Intimidation
  d10,Noticed8
  Charisma:+2;	Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:6
  Hindrances:DarkSecret(secretMormonpolice),
  Loyal(MormonChurch)
  Edges: Arcane Background (Miracles), Attractive,
  NewPower,PowerPoints
  Gear:Blackclothing,cross,BookofMormon
  Powers:Bolt(redandwhitetwistingenergyarc),
  fear(speakthepowerofGod),puppet(obeythe
  wordofGod).15PowerPoints.
  
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  11
  One of the most recognized stories of Ancient
  GreeceisthelegendarytaleofJasonandhisband
  ofArgonautswhosailedacrossatreacherousseato
  claim a great treasure – the Golden Fleece of the
  winged ram Chrysomallos. The tale is an ancient
  oneandhassurvivedtheageswithmanyvariations
  andinterpretations.Buttheobjectofthequest,that
  mythicalfleecewhichJasonwastaskedwithretrieving,
  hasalmostpassedintoantiquity.
  History
  LikemostGreeklegends,thestoryoftheGolden
  Fleecebeginswithagod.PoseidonwastheGreek
  god of the sea, a powerful deity capable of great
  destructionandvengeance.Hewasalsocommonly
  possessedwithafearfullustandsiredmanylegendary
  heroesandbeingsinmythology.Theparticularcreature
  Golden	Fleece	of	the	Argonauts
  thatcaughtPoseidon’sfancyatthestartofthistale
  wasTheophane,anymphanddaughterofHeliosthe
  suntitan,whomtheseagodtransportedtoaremote
  island. There he transformed her into an ewe and
  himselfintoaram,bothhiddenamongsttheflocksof
  theislandtohidefromthenymph’sothersuitors.
  TheresultofthisunionwasChrysomallosamighty
  winged ram with a golden fleece. The mythical
  creature appears next in the story of Phrixus and
  Helle,twinsbornofaunionbetweenAthamasand
  the cloud goddess Nephele. Athamas was king of
  Orchomenus,acityinsoutheasternGreece,wholater
  spurnedNepheleinfavorofIno,queenoftheGreek
  cityThebes.Withthecloudgoddessdepartedagreat
  droughtcametoOrchomenus,whichInoblamedon
  hertwostepchildren.
  
  12
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Inoplannedonsacrificingthembothtoappeasethe
  godsandliftthedrought,butNepheleappearedto
  herchildrenintheformofChrysomallos.Phrixusand
  Helledepartedonthebackofthewingedram,but
  duringthetripHellefelloffintothestraitnownamed
  afterher,Hellespont.Phrixusandtheramarrivedinthe
  cityofColchisontheeasternedgeoftheBlackSea.
  TheretheyoungmansacrificedChrysomallosinthe
  nameofPoseidonandpresentedtheGoldenFleeceto
  KingAeëtes,whoinreturngavePhrixushisdaughter.
  Thefleecewashungonatreeinagardensacredto
  Ares,guardedbyadragonthatneverslept.
  ThestoryoftheGoldenFleeceturnstowardJason
  atthispoint,whowastherightfulheiroftheGreek
  cityofIolcus.HisunclePeliasimprisonedhisfather
  Aesoninapower-hungrybidforallofThessaly,going
  sofarastokillallofAeson’sdescendants.ButJason
  washiddenawayandraisedbythecentaurChironin
  theforest.
  Peliaswaswarnedbyanoraclethatamanwith
  onesandalwouldonedaylayclaimtohisthrone.
  SomeyearslaterPeliaswasholdinggamesinhonor
  ofPoseidon,whenanarrivingguestwasannounced
  as“themanwithonesandal”.ItwasJason,whohad
  losthissandalinthemudafterhelpinganoldwoman
  (whowasactuallythegoddessHera).Peliasrecognized
  therightfulheir,andaskedwhatJasonwoulddoif
  confrontedwiththemanwhowouldbehisdownfall.
  Divinely inspired by Hera, Jason replied that he
  wouldsendthemanonaquestfortheGoldenFleece
  inColchis,whichPeliasonlyhappilyobliged.Jason
  assembledacrewoffiftyheroesanddemigodsfrom
  acrossallofGreece,includingsuchlegendaryfiguresas
  Heracles,sonofZeus;Theseus,slayeroftheMinotaur;
  Laertes,fatherofOdysseus;andArgus,builderofthe
  mythical ship Argo from which the story takes its
  name.
  JasonandhisbandofArgonautssailedfromIolcus
  andpartookinmanyadventures,includinglandingon
  theislandofLemnospopulatedsolelybypromiscuous
  women,fendingoffabandofharpiestoprotectthe
  blind prophet Phineus, and crossing the Cyanean
  Rocksthatwouldcrushshipsonawhim.Eventually
  thecrewoftheArgoarrivedinColchis,whereKing
  Aeëteswaswaiting.
  ThekingofColchisdemandedthreeimpossibletasks
  becompletedbeforegivinguptheGoldenFleece.
  Theseweretoyokethefire-breathingbronzebulls
  knownastheKhalkotauroiandtoplowafield;sow
  theteethofadragonintothefreshlyplowedfield;and
  finallytoovercometheSleeplessDragonthatguarded
  theAresGardenwheretheGoldenFleecehung.
  Jasonfellintoadeepdepressionatthedaunting
  natureofthesetasks,butthroughaseriesofdivine
  connectionsthedaughterofKingAeëtes,Medea,was
  madetofallinlovewiththelegendaryprince.With
  heraidJasonwasabletocompletethetasksandclaim
  theGoldenFleece,whichtheytookandfledfrom
  Colchis,chasedbytheforcesoftheking.Afterafew
  moretrialsthecrewoftheArgoreturnedtoIolcus,
  whereuponJasonclaimedthethroneoftheking.
  AfterthestoryoftheArgonautstheGoldenFleece
  disappears into obscurity, its current whereabouts
  unknown.
  Physical Description
  TheGoldenFleeceappearsasalargecuredramskin
  withthick,curlygoldenhaircoveringonesideanda
  smoothtanningonthereverse.Thehairconstantly
  shimmersandsparkles,aqualitywhichitneverloses
  regardlessoftheamountofavailablelight.Itcaneasily
  bewornovertheshouldersasacloak,andifwornin
  suchawaythefleeceresizesitselfsoitneverdragson
  theground.ThehornsofChrysomallosthewinged
  ramstilladornthetopoftherelic.
  Powers
  The Golden Fleece constantly sheds light in a
  Medium Burst template from the golden hair that
  adornsit.Ifwornovertheshoulderstheweareris
  immunetoalldamagefromfire,regardlessofsource.
  Thisincludesmagicalfire,suchasthatfromafiery
  bolt,andnatural/supernaturalfire,suchasadragon’s
  breathweapon.
  Thisrelicalsohastheabilitytohealthesickof
  theirailmentsandmendgrievouswounds.Bywrapping
  
  	
  GOLDEn	FLEECE	OF	THE	ARGOnAUTS
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  13
  thetargetintheGoldenFleece’sembrace,allwounds
  stopbleedingandanypoisonordiseaseeffectscease
  immediately.Afterleavingthetargetboundintherelic
  foratotalof10minutes(duringwhichthetargetcan
  take no actions) the fleece flares with golden light
  andthewrappedrecipientishealedofallwounds,
  includingPermanentCripplingInjuries,andallpoisons
  anddiseasesarecleansed.
  If the Golden Fleece’s healing powers are used
  onsomeonewhoisRavaged(aWildCard),italso
  bestows its fire immunity to the target. This effect
  wearsoffaftertwenty-fourhours,however.
  Rumors and Speculation
  Thecurrentwhereaboutsofthispowerfulrelicare
  currentlyunknown,buttherearemanypeopleand
  organizations who would like to lay claim to such
  anitem.Onespecificandinfluentialsuchgroupis
  theFreemasons,whoseektheGoldenFleeceofthe
  Argonautstodecipheritshealingsecrets.Withthis
  knowledgetheywouldbeabletopurifythehuman
  bodyofdiseaseandhealthewounded–butuseit
  onlyforthoseloyaltothenewworldorderthatwould
  becreated.TheonlyleadtheFreemasonshaveisthat
  theGoldenFleeceissaidtoreside“inthehomeof
  ChirononthecavernousslopesofMountPelion.”All
  expeditionstothismountaininsoutheasternThessaly
  incentralGreecehaveturnedupnothingsofar.
  Ravaged	Tale:	Ace	in	the	Hole
  ThelegendoftheArgonautsandtheirleaderJason
  hasinspiredtheworldforgenerations.Onesuchman,
  PrincePauloftheKingdomofYugoslavia,viewsthe
  legendandretrievaloftheGoldenFleeceasnomere
  allegory–heseesitastheonlywaytounitehis
  disparatepeopleunderonerule.
  Background
  In1918acollectionofsmallcountriesandAustrian-
  HungarianprovincesunitedtoformtheKingdomof
  Yugoslavia.Ruledinitiallybyarepresentativegovernment
  andthenbyaroyaldictatorshipin1929,thekingdom
  stretchedfromtheWesternBalkanstocentralEurope,
  andwascomprisedofSlovenia,Croatia,Bosnia,Serbia,
  andMontenegroprimarily.Itwasaverymixedbag
  ofculturesandpeople,allofwhomwantedtheirown
  nation-statetogovern.
  Thesituationcametoaheadin1934whenKing
  Alexander I was assassinated in Marseille, France.
  It grabbed the world’s attention, as this was the
  first assassination caught on film. The assassin was
  a Croatian nationalist associated with the Ustase,
  a revolutionary movement dedicated to a free and
  independentCroatiaandMacedonia.
  ThenextinlinetothefracturedYugoslaviankingdom
  wasan11-yearoldboy,PeterII,buttheminorwasnot
  allowedtotakethethrone.Instead,acouncilofregents
  wasappointed,withKingAlexander’scousin,Prince
  Paul,thedefactoleaderoftheregency.
  PrincePaulgrewupintheDravaBanovinaprovince
  ofYugoslavia,specificallythecapitalcityofLjubljana.
  ThiscitytraceditsoriginsbacktoJasonhimself,when
  he and the Argonauts got turned around on their
  returntriptoIolcus.SomeoftheArgonautsstayedin
  thearea,andthecityofLjubljanaarosearoundthem.
  The culture and history of this area was distinctly
  separatefromtherestofthecountryasaresultofthis,
  andPrincePaulgrewupmemorizingthebravetalesof
  Jasonandhisbandofheroes.
  Now,withtheKingdomofYugoslaviastrugglingto
  remain unified and the heir to the throne a mere
  youngboy,PrincePaulseesadivinequestinfront
  ofhim.Heannouncedtothecouncilofregentsthat
  hewouldunifythedisparatefactionsandpeoplesof
  YugoslaviabyretrievingthefamedGoldenFleeceof
  theArgonauts.Theregentsscoffedatthenotionand
  claimedtheundertakingtobefutile,towhichPrince
  Paulreplied“ifthisimpossibletaskcanbeachieved,
  then I believe we can be united under impossible
  odds.”
  Unfortunately,membersoftherevolutionaryforce
  Ustase, who assassinated King Alexander I, have
  learned of the prince’s plans and have set out to
  preventthereclamationoftheGoldenFleece.They
  feartheunificationthatPrincePaulseeks,asitwould
  underminetheireffortsoverthelasttenyears.
  
  14
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  PrincePaulnowneedsacrewofheroestoventure
  forthonthejourneywithhim,onaquestthatleads
  himtothecasinosofMonteCarlo.
  Red and Black …
  Thescenariobeginswiththeheroesindulgingin
  agameofrouletteintheMonteCarloCasino.This
  world-classgamblingestablishmentislocatedinthe
  Principality of Monaco on the southeastern shore
  ofFranceoverlookingtheMediterranean,andisso
  exclusiveitisillegalforresidentsofMonacotoeven
  enter.Theheroesarejoinedatthetablesbyawell-
  dressedmanwhointroduceshimselfasZorislav.During
  thegametheman,anagentofPrincePaul,isattacked
  byanassassinwhofleesintothecrowd.
  Readthefollowingtobegin:
  The subtle and beautiful lights of the 
  Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco always 
  mesmerize, and tonight is no exception. 
  You find yourselves at a low-stakes roulette 
  table, the soft sounds of a soothing jazz 
  trio in the corner mingling with the calls 
  of card dealers and the shouts of winners 
  and losers alike. Monte Carlo never ceases 
  to amaze.
  If the heroes are interested, use the following
  guidelinestocoverhalfanhourofroulette.Eachhero
  putsinacertainamountofcash,nolessthan$10and
  nomorethan$200(it’sasmallstakesroulettegame,
  afterall!).EachherothenmakesaGamblingcheck,
  andforeachsuccessandraisetheyget50%oftheir
  earningsback.Soiftheyputdown$10andgeta
  success,theywalkawaywith$5.00afterhalfanhour;
  witharaiseitwouldbe$10,tworaises$15,etc.Ifthe
  heroevergetsaoneontheskilldie,regardlessofthe
  WildDie,helosesthewholebet.
  After whatever amount of time you think is
  appropriate,awell-dressedmanwithdarkskinand
  slicked hair appears. Introducing himself in a thick
  accent as Zorislav, he makes polite small talk with
  theheroes,gamblingthetableminimumifthegame
  continues(hehasGamblingd6withnoWildDie).
  … Black and Blue
  AfterZorislavhasatleastlearnedtheheroes’names,
  the assassin strikes. A tall thin man with a narrow
  moustache and dressed in a tuxedo “accidentally”
  bumpsintoZorislavfrombehind.AsZorislavturns
  toapologize,hiseyesgowideastheknifeisplunged
  intohisside!
  Have the heroes make Notice rolls; those who
  succeedaredealtacard.TheassassinisaFrenchman
  namedLeontheWolf,andimmediatelyatthetopof
  theroundhedashesintothecrowd.Timeforachase
  throughthecongestedMonteCarloCasino–usea
  RangeIncrementof1withtheheroesandLeonthe
  WolfstartingoutatNearrange(2RangeIncrements
  apart).ThecasinofloorisconsideredThickObstacles.
  AnyherowhopausestocheckonZorislavfinds
  themanisdying,andhepassesaslipofpapertothe
  herojustbeforehesuccumbs.Writtenonthenoteis
  thenameofthetheateratthecasino,seatnumbers
  (enoughforeachhero),andthetimeeighto’clock.
  Iftheheroesdon’tcatchtheelusiveLeonafterten
  chaserounds,hedisappearsintothebowelsofthe
  casino’sinnerhallways.Iftheydocatchhimhefights
  tenaciously,andafteronlyoneroundisjoinedbyhired
  thugs(oneforeachhero).Leonisadespicablevillain
  whodelightsintauntinghisenemies.Whenthingsgo
  badlyforhissideheconvenientlydisappearsintothe
  crowd,makinghimaneasilyrecurringvillainforthe
  heroes.
  Night at the Opera
  AfterthescuffletheMonteCarloCasinosecurity
  arrivesandquestionstheheroesaboutwhathappened.
  They recognize the name of Leon the Wolf and
  indicate he is a renowned assassin and master of
  disguise.Theyperformasearchofthecasinogrounds
  butturnupnotraceofhim.
  Theonlyclueleftfortheheroesisthehandwritten
  noteZorislavgavethembeforehedied.Theopera
  seatshavebeenpaidforbyPrincePaul,andthebox
  officehandsthemtheticketsaftertheyidentifywhich
  seats they are looking for. In the grand theater of
  the Monte Carlo Casino a performance of Jules
  Massenet’sDonQuichottebeginsat8:30.
  
  	
  GOLDEn	FLEECE	OF	THE	ARGOnAUTS
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  15
  Heroeswhotaketheirseatsanytimebeforethatfind
  themselvesseatednexttoayoungmanwithfairskin
  andastrongjaw.HeintroduceshimselfasPrincePaul
  andaskswhathappenedtohisfriendZorislav.The
  princealreadyknowswhattranspired,buthewantsto
  hearitfromtheheroes.
  Afterthestory,PrincePaulsaysthattheassassin
  washiredbyrebelliousfactionswithintheKingdom
  ofYugoslavia.Inordertounifyhiscountry,heneeds
  toretrievethefabledGoldenFleeceoftheArgonauts.
  However, to complete this task he needs his own
  bandofheroes,hisown“Argonauts.”Theheroeshave
  proventhemselvestohim,andPrincePaulasksifthey
  arewillingtoundergoaperilousjourneytofindthe
  legendaryrelic.
  Iftheheroesagree,PrincePaulisdelighted.Heasks
  tomeettheminaweekinLjubljana,thelargecapital
  cityofDravaBanovinaprovinceintheKingdomof
  Yugoslavia.Hepromisestoexplainmoreatthattime.
  TheGMisfreeatthispointtocreateanepicquest
  fortheGoldenFleece.OnepossibilityisthatPrince
  Paul has custom-built a zeppelin called the Luba 
  Argo inwhichheandhisown“Argonauts”(i.e.,the
  heroes)traveltheworldinsearchofthepowerfulrelic.
  (WC)	LEOn	THE	WOLF
  Attributes:Agilityd12,Smartsd8,Spiritd8,Strength
  d8,Vigord10
  Skills: Climbing d8, Fighting d12, Guts d10,
  Intimidationd10,Noticed8,Stealthd10,Throwing
  d8
  Charisma:0;	Pace:8;	Parry:11;	Toughness:7
  Hindrances:Arrogant,Vengeful
  Edges:Acrobat,BringItOn!,CombatReflexes,First
  Strike, Fleet Footed, Hard to Kill, Improved Block,
  Improved Dodge, Improved Frenzy, Improved Level
  Headed, Improved Nerves of Steel, Martial Artist,
  Two-Fisted
  Gear:Fists(Str+d6),tuxedo,knives(Str+d4),$75
  mOnTE	CARLO	THUG	(1	PER	HERO)
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd4,Spiritd8,Strength
  d10,Vigord8
  Skills: Fighting d10, Intimidation d8, Notice d6,
  Streetwised6
  Charisma:0;	Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:6
  Hindrances:Loyal(LeontheWolf)
  Edges:CombatReflexes,Frenzy
  Gear:Club(Str+d4),$10each
  
  16
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  ThesagasofNorseMythology
  arefilledwithgreatgodsfacingoff
  againstterriblegiantsandother
  gods in cataclysmic affairs and
  titanicbattles,theresultsofwhich
  weremanyandvaried.Noneof
  the gods were so mighty as Odin,
  whowasagodofwar,death,wisdom
  andmagic.ManyoftheNorsesagastellof
  thepowerfulrelicsandweaponspossessed
  bytheirdeities,andOdinhadhisshareof
  magicalequipmentintheoldtales.Oneof
  hismorerecognizableweaponswasGungnir,
  theSpearofOdin.
  History
  Accordingtolegend,Gungnirwasforgedby
  theSonsofIvaldi,abandofdwarveswhowere
  master blacksmiths. From their forges came such
  legendaryitemsasSkidbladnir(amagicalshipthat
  could be folded up like a cloth) and the golden
  strandsofhairmadeforSifafterLokihadheroriginal
  haircut.Gungnirwasaspearlikenoother,andthe
  greatestofthedwarfblacksmiths–Dvalin–tookgreat
  prideinhiscreation.
  ItwasLoki,godofmischiefandtrickery,whostole
  GungnirfromtheSonsofIvaldi,afterbeingforced
  toretrieveitbyThoraspunishmentforcuttingSif’s
  beautifulhair.GungnirwaspresentedtoOdin,who
  foundittohisliking,andhetheninscribedmagical
  runesofpowerontothespear’stip.Therunescaused
  thespeartonevermissitstargetandalwaysreturnto
  itsowner’shandwhenthrown.
  Whenwarbetweenthetwofactionsofthegods,
  theAesirandVanir,finallybrokeout,itwasOdinwho
  startedtheterribleconflictbythrowingGungnirover
  theheadsofhisVanirenemies.
  TheNorselegendofRagnarok,the“Twilightofthe
  Gods,”foretellsthatOdinwillrideintobattlebefore
  hisassembledEinherjar(warriorswhodiedinbattle)
  withGungnirfirminhand.Hewillpiercethehideof
  Fenrir,themonstrouswolf,butthewoundwillnotbe
  fatal.FenrirwillinturnkillOdinduringthisclimactic
  battle,andbeslainbyoneofOdin’ssonsafterward.
  Before Ragnarok, however, Odin knew that the
  timeofhiskinwouldfadeintoobscurity.Arelatively
  unknownlegendrecountsthatOdinwouldinterhis
  weapon in the deepest canyon of the Norwegian
  mountainsuntiltheendtimeofRagnarok.Nomortal
  has discovered the site, but there are many places
  whereitcouldbehiding.
  Gungnir was not just a mythical weapon to the
  Norse Vikings, but also a symbol of lordship and
  commandovermen.InthehandsofOdin,kingofthe
  gods,itwasafearsometoolusedtocowenemiesand
  inspireconfidenceinassembledwarriors.
  Physical Description
  Gungnirisdescribedasbeingmadeofashwood
  fromYggdrasil,theWorld-Tree,thatsupportsthe
  realmsofmen,gods,andinbetween.Thehead
  ofthespearisinscribedwithrunesofpower,
  carvedbyOdinhimselfafterhelearnedtheir
  mastery.BeingapowerfulrelicoftheNorse
  gods,itcantransformitselftofitthesizeof
  itsbearer.
  Powers
  Gungnirisapotentweaponofwar.
  Ithasthefollowingstatistics:Damage
  Str+d6+5;Weight5;Parry+2;Reach
  1,2handed.
  When used in combat Gungnir
  alwayshitsregardlessoftheactual
  Gungnir,	Odin’s	Spear
  
  	
  GUnGniR,	ODin'S	SPEAR
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  17
  resultoftheFightingroll.However,iftheattackwould
  normallyhit,therunescutintotheheadofthemagical
  spearwillflaretolifeanddrawpowerfromitsbearer.
  EachpointofdifferencebetweentheFightingrolland
  thetarget’sParrycausesthebearertosufferapointof
  damage.IgnoreArmorforthesepurposes,andinstead
  ofcausingWoundsitcauseslevelsofFatigue.The
  Fatiguegoesawayatarateofonelevelperminute.
  Gungnirhasthesamedrainingpowerwhenthrown.
  Ifthespearisthrownitreturnsimmediatelytothe
  thrower’shandsafterstrikingitstarget.
  Rumors and Speculation
  Gungnirisapowerfulweapon,andinthehands
  ofthetrulywickeditcouldbeusedtosowgreat
  destructionanddeathacrosstheland.InGermania,
  Hitler has sent teams of archeologists around the
  globetosearchforlostrelicsandartifacts,withsquads
  specificallysenttoScandinavia.HisinterestinNorse
  mythologyandrunesespeciallyiswellknown,andif
  theNazisweretogainpossessionofOdin’sSpearthere
  isnotellingwhattheywouldbeabletoaccomplish.
  Othergroupsseektherelicaswell,includingadeep-
  seated cult in Norway and Sweden known as the
  WolvesofLoki.Thesefanaticswishtobringabout
  Ragnarokandendtheworldwithacleansingofthe
  earthandgods.Whetherthesederangedcultistsare
  workingwith,against,orcompletelyoblivioustothe
  Nazisremainstobeseen.
  Ravaged	Tale:	The	Tomb	of	
  Odin
  At the behest of an immortal Viking spirit the
  heroestraveltoNorwaytomeetaprofessoratthe
  UniversityofOslo.Therehehasmadeanincredible
  discoveryregardinganancienttempleofOdinlocated
  somewhereintheheartoftheJotunheimenMountains.
  Unfortunately,agroupofradicalscalledtheWolvesof
  Lokiseektostoptheexpedition,andtheheroesmust
  raceagainstthisapocalypseculttoreachtheancient
  sitewhereOdin’sgreatestweaponissaidtorest.Inthe
  mountaincavetheheroeswillneedallthehelpthey
  cangetwhentheyfaceadreadeddraugrjötunn,the
  bloodthirstyspiritofadeadgiant.
  Background
  Manysecretsofterriblepowerandancientdecree
  dwellwithintheforgottencornersoftheearth.One
  suchcorneristhewesterncoastofNorway,where
  thejaggedpeaksoftheScandinavianMountainsrise.
  Thesearenotthetallestmountainsintheworld,but
  centuriesuponcenturiesofglaciermovementandice
  flowshavecreatedsteepcliffsandbreathtakingviews.
  A legend amongst the Norwegian people dating
  backtotheeraoftheVikingsrelatesthatsomewhere
  in the Jotunheimens, a particularly rough range of
  theScandinavianMountains,islocatedthelastand
  greatesttempletoOdintheAll-Father.Itisherewhere
  Gungnirisinterred,awaitingRagnaroksothatitmight
  beusedagainstFenrirthewolf,sonofLoki.
  Many men have gone searching for this temple,
  whichthelegendscalltheTombofOdin.Mostdie
  somewhereinthecraggypeaksoftheJotunheimens,
  searchingforthelostrelicsofthekingoftheNorse
  gods.Butonemanhasfoundcluestothefabledsite.
  Professor Sigvard Utterstrom of the University of
  Oslohascrackedthecodetoarecentlydiscovered
  Norserunestone.Therunestonedetailsthesitewhere
  Odinconcealedhisspeartoawaithiscomingasthe
  heraldofRagnarok,aplace“wherethelightoftherising
  sunstrucktheinvisiblerocksthroughthekeyhole,on
  theshoresofHeimdall’slake.”Afterconsultingwith
  whatfewmapsandnotesoftheregionmightpossibly
  pertaintoHeimdall’slake,hehassofarbeenunable
  tomakeaconnection.
  TheNorwegianprofessor’stranslationhasreached
  the well-connected ears of the Wolves of Loki, a
  radicalgroupseekingtobringaboutRagnarok.They
  believetheycanhastentheTwilightoftheGodsby
  recoveringGungnirandfreeingtheirimprisonedgod,
  Loki.TheyneedtheinformationProfessorUtterstrom
  hasinordertofindtheTombofOdin,andtheyclose
  inonhimathisoffice.
  
  18
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Luckilysomeoneiswatchingfromtheotherside,
  however.OneoftheEinherjar,spiritsofVikingwarriors
  whohavefalleninbattle,seesthepiecesofthisgame
  inmotionanddecidestomakeaplay.ErikBloodaxe,
  a legendary Viking, chooses a group of heroes to
  interveneandpreventGungnirfromfallingintothe
  handsoftheWolvesofLoki.
  The Valhalla Visitor
  Thescenariobeginswiththeheroesgatheredatable
  fordinner,perhapsaloneoratarestaurant(GMchoice).
  The Einherjar, Erik Bloodaxe, makes his thunderous
  appearancebeforethem,commandingthemtoseek
  outProfessorUtterstromattheUniversityofOsloto
  stoptheWolvesofLoki.Healsogivesthemaclue
  tofindingHeimdall’slake–“protectedbyhismothers.”
  Readorparaphrasethefollowingtobegin:
  The evening’s meal is interrupted by 
  a gust of chill wind, though glancing 
  around you find no source for such a gale. 
  Your bones momentarily chilled, you are 
  startled when suddenly the lights die down 
  and inky darkness descends in an instant. 
  After a paused breath, a sparkling image 
  materializes before you – a hulking man 
  stepping as if from a dream. He is dressed 
  as an ancient Viking raider, with a flowing 
  red beard and a large blood-encrusted 
  axe gripped firmly in both hands. His eyes, 
  dark and brooding beneath the dented 
  helmet, scan you for a moment.
  “From the gates of Valhalla have I 
  traveled,” thunders the apparition, raising 
  his massive axe threateningly, “and you 
  shall heed the word of Erik Bloodaxe! 
  The Wolves of Loki seek to bring about 
  Ragnarok, but it is not time for the gods to 
  do battle. Find Utterstrom in Oslo, and then 
  seek the lake protected by the mothers of 
  Heimdall. Waste no time, and go with the 
  blessings of the All-Father.”
   With nary a word more the ghostly 
  Viking disappears, and the lights return 
  with a flicker.
  TheheroeshavejustbeenvisitedbyErikBloodaxe,
  oneoftheEinherjarwhoaregatheredfromthefield
  ofbattleandbroughtforthtoValhallabyvalkyries.
  AnacademicorlinguistexpertcanmakeaCommon
  Knowledge check at -2 to identify Utterstrom as
  anexpertinNorsemythologywhoteachesatthe
  UniversityofOslo.
  Thereferencetothe“mothersofHeimdall”doesn’t
  meanmuchunlesstheyhavetheinformationpossessed
  bytheprofessor,butaherowithknowledgeofNorse
  mythologycanmakeaCommonKnowledgecheck
  torememberthatHeimdallwassupposedlytheson
  ofninemothers.Thisprovesthekeytofindingthe
  identifiedlakefromtherunestone.
  Theheroesshouldfeelagreatburdenhasbeen
  placedontheirshoulders;afterall,theyareheroes,
  andtheyhavebeenchosenbyaVikingwarriorfrom
  agespasttostoptheWolvesofLoki.ThoughErik
  Bloodaxedidnotidentifyaparticulartimeline,hedid
  specificallytellthemto“wastenotime,”sotheyshould
  bemotivatedtoseekoutUtterstromwithoutdelay.
  Wolves at the Door
  Chartering a plane to Norway should prove no
  difficulttaskfortheheroes,especiallyifoneofthem
  isapilottobeginwith.TheairportatOsloiseasyto
  navigate,andmostofthepeoplespeakEnglishfairly
  well.TheUniversityofOsloislocatedinacentral
  partofthebustlingcommercialcity,asanyofthe
  friendlynativescanpointout.
  As the heroes make their way to the offices of
  ProfessorUtterstromhavethemmakeNoticechecks
  at-2.Anyonewhosucceedsspotsalanky,ill-kempt
  manwatchingandfollowingthemfromadistance.If
  theheroesturnaroundatallorgiveanyindication
  thattheyhavespottedhim,hedisappearsintothe
  crowd.ThisisoneoftheWolvesofLokiwatching
  newarrivalsattheairport.
  TheUniversityofOsloisanimpressiveacademic
  institutionandtheoldestuniversityinallofNorway.
  
  	
  GUnGniR,	ODin'S	SPEAR
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  19
  SigvardUtterstromisaprofessorintheDepartment
  of Archaeology, Conservation, and History in the
  Humanities Building, and the front desk clerks are
  happytopointtheheroestohisoffice.Astheheroes
  approachtheynoticethedoorisslightlyajar,andwith
  a successful Notice roll they can hear low voices
  speaking in Norwegian in the room. Anyone who
  speaksNorwegianandlistensforamomenthearsa
  man telling another to “give up the secrets of the
  runestone.”
  Upon entering, the heroes surprise a group of
  WolvesofLokiaccostingProfessorUtterstrom.There
  is one cultist plus one for each hero present, and
  theyallhavetheirLugersdrawnandready.Professor
  Utterstromisanon-combatantwhocowersbehindhis
  deskduringtheshooting.
  SofierceistheloyaltyandfanaticismoftheWolves
  of Loki that they fight to the death against the
  heroes.Campuspolicearriveafterthecombat,whom
  Utterstromhandlesbyexplainingthesituation.
  After the cultists have been dispatched, the
  Norwegianprofessorthankstheheroesprofuselyand
  askswhytheycametoseehim.Heisshockedwhen
  toldaboutErikBloodaxe,explainingthatitwasan
  Einherjarwhovisitedthem–thespiritofawarrior
  falleninbattle.Whentheyrecounthiswordsabout
  Heimdall’smothers,Utterstromslapshisforeheadin
  frustrationandcriesout“ofcourse!”
  He explains that he just finished translating a
  runestone that indicated the fabled Tomb of Odin,
  therestingplaceforhismagicalweapons,waslocated
  in the Jotunheimen Mountains on the shores of
  “Heimdall’slake.”He hadn’t figured it outuntil the
  heroesmentionedit,butthereisaremotelakeinthe
  mountain range that has nine huge stones situated
  unevenlyalongtheshore.Heimdallsupposedlyhad
  ninemotherssothatmustbetheplace!
  Utterstromaskstheheroestoaccompanyhimwith
  allhastetothesite,ifonlytostoptheLokicultists.If
  they’vebeenwatchinghimforaslongashethinks
  theyhave,theyknowthetranslationandwilleventually
  figure out the spot in the mountains. It would be
  disastrousiftheWolvesofLokigainpossessionof
  Gungnir.
  The Home of the Giants
  Utterstrominsistsonaccompanyingtheheroes,as
  heisanexperiencedhikerandknowstheJotunheimen
  Mountains(probably)betterthananyofthem.His
  statsarenotprovided–whencombatbreaksouthe
  cowersandisveryuseless.Hedoesprovideeachofthe
  heroes with high-quality mountaineering equipment,
  givingthemabonustochecksmadeduringthehike
  (seebelow).
  Theprofessorsuggeststhattheyflyasfarintothe
  mountainsastheycan;ifoneoftheheroesisapilot
  thisisthepreferredmethodoftravel.Otherwisean
  experienced mountain pilot can be hired in Oslo
  withouttoomuchtrouble.However,aplanewon’t
  takethemallthewayduetothehighwindsofthe
  area.
  ThetoweringpeaksoftheJotunheimenMountains,
  whose name means “Home of the Giants” in Old
  Norse,offerabeautifulvistatothetravelers.Theflight
  takesonlythreehoursfromOslo,andifoneofthe
  heroesisflying,havehimmakeaPilotingcheckto
  navigatethestrongwinds.Oncetheplanehaslanded
  it’sathreedayhiketoHeimdall’sLake.
  Foreachdayofhikinginthemountainstheheroes
  mustmaketwoVigorrolls.Iftheyarewearingthe
  mountaineeringequipmentUtterstromgavethemor
  otherheavywintergeartheygeta+2tothisroll.The
  effectsareotherwisedescribedonpage103ofthe
  Savage Worlds Explorer’s Edition.
  EachnightsomeonemustmakeaSurvivalrollto
  findappropriateshelterfromthehighwinds.Consider
  UtterstromtohaveaSurvivald6withnoWildDie.
  Ifnoonemakestheroll,everyonesuffersalevelof
  Fatigueforthenight.ThisFatigueonlygoesawaywith
  eighthoursrestinanappropriateshelter(successful
  Survivalroll).
  
  20
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Odin’s Tomb
  AfterthethreedaysofhikingthroughtheJotunheimen
  Mountains,theheroesandUtterstromeventuallycome
  toHeimdall’sLake.Itisagorgeoussight,withthestill
  water’ssurfacereflectingeverythinglikeamirror.There
  areindeedninelarge,irregularstonesplacedunevenly
  aroundthelake;it’sdifficulttosayforcertainifthey
  wereplacedthereonpurposeornot.
  AgroupofWolvesofLokiledbyKnute,aHigh
  Fang,havereachedHeimdall’sLakeshortlybeforethe
  heroes.Theystaywelloutofreachandwaitforthe
  heroestoenterOdin’sTombfirstincasethereareany
  traps.
  The runestone inscription indicated to search for
  the Tomb of Odin when “the light of the rising
  sun struck the invisible rocks through the keyhole.”
  Glancingabout,everyonespotsaparticularlystrange
  outcroppingontheeasternshoreofthelake–the
  craggytoprisesabovethehorizonandthereisahole
  inthemiddle!Thisisthe“keyhole”identifiedbythe
  runestone.
  Untilthelightoftherisingsunstrikesthekeyhole
  and illuminates the “invisible rocks” Odin’s Tomb
  remainshidden.Oncethatisdone(whichwillrequire
  restingforanother night, though noSurvival check
  isnecessary)thelightshineslikeaspotlightontoa
  rockyspotonthelakeshore.Afteramomentthe
  rocksdissolvelikeamirage,revealingacarvedstaircase
  descendingintothedepthsofthemountain.Above
  thedoor,inOldNorserunes,isaninscription–“The
  TombofOdinawaitsifyouaretrue.”
  Travelingdownthestairstheheroesareoverwhelmed
  bythestaggeringnumberofcenturiesthathavepassed
  sincethestonewastrodbymortalfeet.Theydescend
  into a large chamber containing a single feature –
  againstthefarwallstandsatwentyfoottallstone
  statueofOdintheAll-Father.Clutchedinhishandsis
  arealspear,easilyremoved,thatprovestobenothing
  lessthanGungnir.
  Unfortunately,KnuteandtheWolvesofLokichoose
  this moment to make their appearance. Knute is a
  wicked,depravedcultistwhostudiedrunesinorderto
  freehis“master”andunleashRagnarokearly.Heviews
  retrievingOdin’sSpearinstrumentalinthistask.There
  isoneLokiWolfcultistforeachhero.
  After four rounds of combat, however, the true
  guardianofOdin’sTombappears.ADraugrJötunn
  letslooseafearsomebellowandstepsintothecenter
  ofthechamber,appearingmuchlikeatwisted,ghostly
  hunchbackedgianteightfeettall.Normalattackshave
  noeffectontheapparition–onlymagicalattackscan
  harmit,includingpowersorrelics–suchasthehandy
  Gungnir.
  If the heroes are having a tough time, have the
  creaturefocusitsattacksontheWolvesofLokifirst.
  Knute will take any opportunity to flee once the
  ghostlyguardianappears.
  Aftermath
  Once the Draugr Jötunn is dealt with and the
  Wolves of Loki scattered, the heroes are left with
  Gungnir.Iftheyleaveit,theycanburytheentrance
  tothecave,butthatisnoguaranteethatsomeone
  won’tdigituplater.Utterstrominsistsontakingthe
  legendaryweaponbacktoOslosoitcanbestudied,
  whichcouldleadtoallsortsoffuturescenariosagainst
  the wicked Wolves of Loki and other groups who
  mightbeinterestedinsuchapotentrelic.
  LOKi’S	WOLF,	RAGnAROK	CULTiST
  Attributes:Agilityd8,Smartsd4,Spiritd6,Strength
  d6,Vigord8
  Skills:Fightingd6,Gutsd6,Noticed6,Stealthd6,
  Throwingd6
  Pace:6;	Parry:5;	Toughness:6
  Hindrances:Loyal(toWolvesofLoki)
  Edges:Dodge
  Gear:Knife(Str+d4),LugerP-08(12/24/48,2d6,RoF
  1,8shots)
  
  	
  GUnGniR,	ODin'S	SPEAR
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  21
  (WC)	KnUTE,	HiGH	FAnG
  Attributes:Agilityd8,Smartsd8,Spiritd10,Strength
  d4,Vigord8
  Skills:Fightingd8,Gutsd10,Intimidationd10,Notice
  d8,Spellcastingd10
  Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:5
  Hindrances:Arrogant,Delusional(freeLoki)
  Edges:ArcaneBackground(Magic),ImprovedNerves
  ofSteel,NewPower
  Gear: Knife (Str+d4), knapsack containing spells
  markedonrunestones
  Powers:Armor(skinbecomeslikestone),bolt(jet
  offlame),fear(howlofFenrir),puppet(mocking
  laughter forces the target to perform actions);	 10	
  Power	Points
  DRAUGR	JöTUnn
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd6,Spiritd10,Strength
  d12+3,Vigord12
  Skills: Fighting d8, Intimidate d12+2, Notice d12,
  Tauntd10,Stealthd12+4,Throwingd12
  Pace:6;	Parry:5;	Toughness:11
  Gear:Rocks(6/12/24,Str+d4)
  Special	Abilities:
  •Claws:Str+d6
  •Ethereal:TheDraugrJötunnisimmaterialand
  canonlybeharmedbymagicalattacks,suchas
  fromGungnir
  •Fear	-4:Seeingthisterribleghostlygiantcauses
  Gutschecksat-4.
  •Size	+3:TheDraugrJötunnwouldbeover12’tall
  ifitstoodup,butthecreaturehunchessoit’s
  shouldersonlyreachabout8’.
  •Sweep:Mayattackalladjacentfoesat-2.
  
  22
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Preservedforovertwothousandyears,theheartof
  China’sfirstemperorisarelicofmind-numbingpower,
  conferringonitsownertheabilitytocontrolminds
  andexertinfluenceuponthecravenandweak.Once
  beatinginthechestofoneofhistory’smostruthless
  leaders,theheart’smagiccannowbeactivatedoncein
  ageneration,byaleaderworthyofitspower.
  History
  QinShiHuang,thefirstemperorofChina,wasa
  ruthlessbutcompetentrulerwhoascendedthethrone
  in221B.C.afterdefeatingrivalwarlords.Unitingthe
  individualprovincesunderacodifiedsystemoflaw,
  languageandculture,QinShiHuang’sbureaucracy
  bound his people to loyalty
  under pain of
  violentdeath.
  Heart	of	Qin	Shi	Huang
  Hisprimeminister,LiSi,becamehisaccomplicein
  transformingChinafromafeudalsystemtooneof
  legalism.LiSidispatchedassassinstopurgescholars
  and philosophers in other territories. The emperor
  constructedtheGreatWall,separatinghislandsfrom
  thebarbariansinthenorthernsteppes.Workerswhofell
  illorceasedtheirlaborswereinterredwithinthewall’s
  foundation. Besides the defensive wall, the emperor
  improvedroadsandcanalsystemsandimplementeda
  unifiedsystemofstandardcurrencyandweightsand
  measures.
  Despitethesebenevolentadvances,QinShiHuang’s
  stringent rule was absolute and unquestionable. All
  controversialtextswereputtothetorch,andnewones
  werewrittenthatalteredhistorytohiswhim.Books
  on agriculture, medicine and prophecy were spared
  destruction.Confucianscholarswereburiedalive,and
  thosewhoquestionedhisautocraticruleweretortured,
  imprisonedorkilled.
  Obsessed with death, Qin Shi Huang looked
  for ways to prolong his existence, even forcing his
  alchemiststoadministeraregimenofmercurypills,
  whichwasthoughttoprolonglife.
  Whentheemperordiedin210B.C.,he
  was entombed in a massive burial
  moundalongwiththousandsof
  life-liketerracottawarrior
  statues that could
  servehiminthenext
  world.
  Beforehishandlers
  buried him, they
  removed his heart
  and, using sorcery,
  preserveditinajade
  urnasasymbolofhis
  earthlyrule.Dynasties
  that followed retained the
  
  	
  HEART	OF	Qin	SHi	HUAnG
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  23
  relic, claiming the heart contained great power for
  thosefortunatetowieldit.
  Theemperor’sheartmagicallybeatforthosewho
  unlockeditssecretsthroughanincantationtransmitted
  orallythroughtheagesandknownbyafewalchemists
  each generation. One such alchemist recorded the
  incantationinabookthatwaseventuallypublished.
  QinShiHuang’sheartwaslastusedinA.D.960,
  whentheSongDynastyassumedcontroloverChina,
  usheringinaneraofblossomingartisticandsocial
  advancement. The relic remained in the imperial
  palace in Bianliang until 1279, when the Song
  Dynastycollapsed.Losttohistoryuntilitsmiraculous
  rediscoveryinadingyShanghaiwarehouse,theheart
  waspurchasedbytheUniversityofSanFrancisco.
  Physical Description 
  TheheartofQinShiHuangisapetrifiedhuman
  heart,surprisinglyintactdespitebeinganastonishing
  twothousandyearsold.Deepbrownincolor,ithas
  theconsistencyofdriedleather.Theaortaissevered
  slightlyabovetherightatrium,atelltalesignofhurried
  surgerybythesorcererwhoremovedtheheartfrom
  theemperor’scorpse.Theorganisstoredinajade
  urndecoratedwithdragons,phoenixesandaflowering
  lotus.
  Powers
  Magically preserved, the heart’s power can be
  conferred only once in a generation, about every
  twenty-five years. Activating its power requires the
  user(usuallyaruthlessrulerortyrant)torecitean
  incantationwhileholdingtherelic.Whenthisisdone,
  theheartglowsandactuallybeginsbeatingwithalow
  deliberatethumping.Aburstofenergycracklesand
  fiftyspiritwarriorsmanifest.Thesewarriorsservetheir
  master’scommands,mutelyobeyingwithoutquestion.
  Theheart’swielderalsoreceivestheFervorandInspire
  Edgesifhedidn’thavethempreviouslyandgainsa+6
  toallSpiritandVigorrolls.
  ThehearthasaToughnessof10andonceitis
  destroyed,itspowerscease.Iftheheartisseveredfrom
  itsuser,therelic’sspecialpowerslastfor1d4more
  roundsbeforetheincantationmustberecitedagain.
  Rumors and Speculation 
  Withmuchfanfareandhighpraise,theUniversity
  ofSanFranciscounveiledtheemperor’sheartata
  blacktiegalainearly1936.Unfortunately,therelic
  vanishedsometimeafterthat,presumablystolenby
  whatauthoritiesclaimare“treasurehunters.”
  Therelicisrumoredtobeinthepossessionofthe
  JadeDragon,acunningChinesevillainalsothought
  tobeahighlyskilledblackmagician.Inreality,Kung
  Shen,avilecrimelord,stoletheheartandplansto
  unlockitsunearthlypowerswitharitualdesignedto
  tearthecityasunder.
  Ravaged	Tale:	Darkness	Over	
  Chinatown	
  While in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the heroes
  uncoveraplotbyKungShen,anotorioustriadleader
  whowantstoexpandhisdominionoverthecity.Aided
  byhisarmyoficy-veinedmartialartists,hestealsthe
  heartofQinShiHuangfromthecity’smuseumand
  usesitinanarcaneritual.Cantheheroesstopthe
  diabolicalplansfromtakingshape,orwillSanFrancisco
  fallunderthegripofthemaniacalcrimelord?
  Background
  KungShenrunstheTigerClawTriad,anotorious
  TongganginSanFrancisco.Kung’sorganizationemerged
  from the Triad Wars in the 1920s as a formidable
  forcetobereckonedwith,anditnowcontrolsopium,
  illegalhoochandprostitutioninasizableswathof
  Chinatown. However, competition from other triads,
  includingthelargestonerunbythemysteriousJade
  Dragon,stymiesKung’sabilitiestocontrolthecity.
  One night Kung’s men rob an occult shop,
  confrontingtheelderlyChineseownerofthestore.
  Threatened with death, the man tells them of the
  emperor’sheartandtheincantationrequiredtoactivate
  it. After researching the heart’s origins and history,
  Kungbecomesobsessedwithattainingitspower.He
  
  24
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  learnstheUniversityofSanFranciscohadpurchased
  theheartfromanunscrupulousantiquitiesdealerin
  ShanghaiandbroughtittoSanFrancisco,whereitwas
  givenaplaceofhonorinthecitymuseum.Stealing
  theheartiseasy;unlockingitsarcaneabilitiesisnot–
  untilnow.
  KunglearnsalibrariannamedAbigailLeeknows
  theincantation.SheisascholarofancientChinawho
  studied Qin Shi Huang and learned the legendary
  incantationtoawakenthedeademperor’sheart.Kung
  planstokidnapAbigailandforcehertorecitethe
  incantation.
  TheheroesaretravelinginSanFranciscowhenthe
  crimelord’striadgangstrikes.
  Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley
  AstheyareridingatrolleyupPowellStreet,one
  of San Francisco’s hilly routes, the heroes witness
  threeAsianmeninsuitssuddenlyriseandsurrounda
  beautifulChinesefemalepassenger.Oneofthemasks,
  “AbigailLee?KungShenwantsawordwithyouabout
  theheartofQinShiHuang.”
  “TellthatgangsterhecanrotinhellbeforeIdivulge
  theheart’ssecrets,”sherepliesthroughclenchedteeth.
  Theygrabthelibrariananddragherontothetrolley’s
  roofasasedanpullsalongsidethestreetcar.Themen
  aremembersofKungShen’sgangandareabducting
  AbigailLee.Theytrytopassthescreamingwomanto
  acohortridinginthesedan.
  Iftheheroesintervene,ittakesasuccessfulClimbing
  rolltohoistthemselvestotheroofofthetrolley.The
  Tongmembersusetheirmartialartsfightingtokeep
  theheroesatbay.
  IfthingsgoroughfortheTongmembers,oneofthe
  meninthesedanshootsthetrolleydriver,wholurches
  forwardontothecontrols.Nowthetrolleypullsahead
  atmaximumspeedgoingdownthehill,andrequiresa
  Drivingrolltogetthevehicleundercontrol.
  ThetrolleyhasanAccelerationof5andaTop
  Speedof20.Forstatsonthesedan,seetheRavaged 
  Earthsourcebook,page33.
  Iftheheroessucceed,AbigailLeeisrescued.She
  thankstheheroesandrelatesthestoryoftheheartof
  QinShiHuangandtheincantationrequiredtounlock
  itspowers.
  Readthefollowing:
  “Kung Shen will stop at nothing to get his 
  hands on that incantation. Fortunately, it’s 
  in an old manuscript I keep in my office.” A 
  look of growing worry furrows her brow. 
  “We need to check my office now!”
  IftheheroesaccompanyAbigailtoheroffice,they
  noticeit’sbeenransackedandthemanuscriptismissing.
  ShesurmisesKungShenhasit,andhewillenactthe
  ritualthatwillunlocktherelic’spowers.Abigailtells
  theheroestheymuststopthisfromhappening,orelse
  allofChinatownandSanFranciscocouldfallunder
  thecrimelord’scontrol.
  IftheheroesfailtorescueAbigail,thethugsforce
  herintothesedanwhichthenpeelsawayandheads
  forChinatown.HeroesmakingaSearchrollfinda
  matchbook from Kung’s Restaurant, Abigail’s likely
  destination.
  I Left My Heart in San Francisco
  FindingKungShen’shideoutrequiresaStreetwise
  rollinChinatown.Thecrimelord’sbusiness,Kung’s
  Restaurant,islocatedonGrantAvenue.Itsimposing
  façaderesemblesaresplendentpagodadecoratedwith
  dragons and Chinese designs, while the restaurant’s
  interior is typical – tables, paintings of cranes and
  mountains, and waiters scurrying around with dim
  sum carts for the hungry clientele. The restaurant’s
  managerandKung’sloyalconfidant,Mr.Wong,shows
  theheroestoatableandhandsthemmenus.Any
  questionsaboutKungaremetwithstonysilenceor
  flatdenial.Iftheheroesaretoobelligerent,theyare
  shownthefrontdoor.
  Iftheheroesbecometoomuchofanuisance,Tong
  gangmembersattackthemintherestaurant,sending
  customers scattering for the exits. There’s one Tong
  gangmemberforeachhero,plustwomore.
  
  	
  HEART	OF	Qin	SHi	HUAnG
  RAVAGED	EARTH
  	
  25
  HeroesmakingSearchrollsintherestaurantfinda
  door labeled “Employees Only” near the restrooms.
  Openingitrevealsastaircaseleadingdownintoan
  immensesubterraneanchamberlinedwithstonepillars
  and carved Chinese lions. The skeletons of a few
  victimsarechainedtothewallshere.Exploringdeeper,
  theheroesfindalonghallwayleadingtoaround
  roomwithadomedceiling.Standingatthecenterof
  theroomisKungSheng,surroundedby2d8ofhis
  Tonglackeys.
  Iftheheroesdidn’trescueAbigailfromthethugs
  inthetrolleyearlier,she’sstrappedtoachair,tearfully
  mumblingtheincantation.
  IftheheroesrescuedAbigail,Kunghastheancient
  manuscript,andisreadingaloudfromit.
  Thepoweroftheheartisunleashed,andKungnow
  wieldsitagainsttheheroes.
  The Emperor’s Vengeance
  Oncetheritualiscast,theheartbeginstobeat
  ominously,adisturbingsightrequiringaGutscheck
  at-2.Thethumpinggrowslouder,theheartbegins
  glowinggreenandaswirlingmistformsovertherelic.
  WithinthemisttheheroesseetheshapesofChinese
  warriors manifesting, each brandishing swords and
  wearingjadearmor.Therearefiftyphantomwarriors–
  animposingarmy–nowatKung’scommand.
  Thecrimelord’seyesbulgewithexcitementasan
  electricarcflowsfromtherelictohisface,andhe’s
  bathedinasicklypalelight.
  “Ihavepowermostmendreamof!Thiscitywill
  bowtome!”Kungscreams.“Beholdthepowerofthe
  emperor!”
  Aftermath
  IftheheroesdefeatKungandhisghostlyarmyto
  recovertheheart,they’vesavedChinatownandSan
  Francisco.Iftheheartisintact,theheroescanreturn
  ittothemuseum,andarepaidahandsomerewardof
  $1,000.00.
  IfKungShenmanagestoescape,heslinksofftolick
  hiswounds,thenreturnsvowingtotrackdownthe
  heroes.Hestalksthemthroughouttheworldwitha
  ruthlessarmyofassassinsandmayshowupagainina
  futureadventureasarecurringvillain.
  Iftheheroesfail,KungShenandhisphantomforces
  seizecontrolofChinatownoverthenextfewweeks.If
  nothingisdonetohaltthecrimelord,theTigerClaw
  Triadexpandsitsinfluencetotheentirecity,controlling
  theshippingportsandmajorinstitutionsatthecostof
  hundredsoflives.
  TOnG	GAnG	mEmBERS
  Ravaged Earthsourcebook,page130.
  (WC)	ABiGAiL	LEE	
  Attributes:Agilityd6,Smartsd10,Spiritd6,Strength
  d4,Vigord6
  Skills: Fighting d6, Investigation d8, Knowledge
  (Chinesehistory)d10,Noticed6,Stealthd6
  Charisma:+2;	Pace:6;	Parry:5;	Toughness:5
  Hindrances:Cautious,Pacifist
  Edges:Attractive,Scholar
  Knack:PhotographicMemory
  Defining	 interests: Chinese Culture, Classical
  Music,CityKnowledge(SanFrancisco)
  Languages:English,Chinese(Mandarin)
  Gear:Dress,pursecontaining$50,booksonChinese
  history
  (WC)	KUnG	SHEn	
  Attributes:Agilityd8,Smartsd6,Spiritd6,Strength
  d8,Vigord8
  Skills:Fightingd8,Gutsd6,Intimidationd8,Notice
  d8,Persuasiond6,Shootingd8,Stealthd6,Streetwise
  d8,Tauntd8
  Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:6
  Hindrances:Bravado,Greedy
  Edges:Rich,Dodge,Sweep
  Knack:JustaScratch
  Defining	interests:Money,Automobiles,Chinese
  Cuisine
  
  26
  RELiCS	&	RUmORS	#3
  	
  RAVAGED	EARTH	
  Languages:English,Chinese(Mandarin)
  Gear:Suit,ColtServicepistol(2d6+1)
  PHAnTOm	WARRiOR
  Attributes:Agilityd8,Smartsd6,Spiritd10,Strength
  d6,Vigord6
  Skills:Fightingd8,Intimidated12,Noticed10,Taunt
  d12,Stealthd10
  Pace:6;	Parry:6;	Toughness:5
  Special	Abilities:
  •Ethereal: Phantom warriors cannot be harmed
  byphysicalattacks.Theycanonlybeharmedby
  magicalitemsandsupernaturalpowers.
  •Fear	-2:Thephantomwarriorscause
  aGutscheckat-2.
  •Weakness: Each wound
  to the heart of Qin
  Shi Huang inflicts
  2d6damagetoall
  phantomwarriors.
  •Gear: Sword
  (Str+d6)
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Savage Worlds System (SWADE) [multi]/Ravaged Earth/Savage Worlds - Ravaged Earth - Relics & Rumors #3.pdf