Storms of the Mech-Shapers

Unravel a mysterious storm threatening magic-tech balance.

In a city where magic and technology intertwine seamlessly, a series of devastating storms have begun to erode the fabric between both realms, threatening to plunge the society into chaos. The players are summoned by a desperate city council to investigate the source of the storms and must navigate the complex relationship between aggressive mech-shapers and mystics, both of whom feel their power is being threatened. As the storm intensifies, players race against time, uncovering hidden alliances and dark secrets amidst their seemingly idyllic city.

Campaign Image

The World

Context

The world is a blend of arcane-infused machinery, where devices powered by unstable magic coexist with naturally occurring spellcraft. The inhabitants rely on both to survive, creating a cultural tension that fuels the central conflict.

Concept

Arcano-mechanical devices powered by ambient magic, unstable during tempestuous weather.

Impact

The storms disrupt magic flow, causing tech failures and heightened tensions between tech-users and mages; this sparks conflict and mistrust in society.

The Plot

Summary

The players, enlisted by the city council, must investigate the root of the destabilizing storms. After gathering intel in the city, they learn that a rogue mech-shaping faction, the Stormforged, is attempting to harness the storms as a weapon against the mystics—their primary rivals. As players infiltrate a workshop, they uncover magical components fueling the tech used by the Stormforged, revealing an underground marketplace for stolen magic. Following clues leads them to an ancient artifact, the Eye of Tempest, believed to be controlling the storms. However, upon acquiring it, they must face the Stormforged leader, who has imbued themselves with the artifact's power, turning the battle into a chaotic confrontation of magic versus machinery.

Complication

Halfway through, the artifact is revealed to have a mind of its own, activating when the players attempt to use it, unleashing unpredictable magic.

Hook

City-wide storms are disrupting both technology and magic, threatening daily life.

World stakes

Collapse of societal order as magic and technology spiral out of control, leading to chaos.

Personal stakes

Failure means losing access to key resources for magic and tech, endangering the players' lives.

The Acts

Act 1

Summary:

The players arrive at the bustling engineering district now depleted from storm damage. They meet the city council anxious about the worsening storms. The council tasks them with investigating the odd occurrences leading to the storms, setting them to talk to local engineers and mystics, piecing together clues.

Location:

The Council Hall, with displays of intricate clockwork devices buzzing with erratic magic.

Challenge:

Convincing skeptical locals to help them understand the storm's impact.

Objective:

Gather intel about the storms from the city council and local practitioners.

Set Back:

An unsatisfied engineer, angered by the storms, sabotages their equipment, forcing a delay in gathering information.

Revelation:

Hints of a rogue faction manipulating the storms for their agenda.

GM's Guide:

Focus on players' interactions with NPCs, prompting reactions based on their approach. Keep the tension high with environmental hazards from the storms, like bursts of erratic lightning and sudden floods, to maintain the urgency of their mission.

GM's Move:

Storm intensity increases as players make inquiries, providing environmental hazards.

Act 2

Summary:

The players track down a hideout of the Stormforged, managing to infiltrate their workshop. They discover designs for machines crafted to harness the storms. In a tense confrontation, they gather crucial information about the Eye of Tempest, piecing together its role in the recently increased storm severity, while also battling minions of the Stormforged.

Location:

The Stormforged Workshop, cluttered with arcane machinery and hazards within a storm's epicenter.

Challenge:

Evading and defeating the Stormforged's minions while collecting intel.

Objective:

Infiltrate the Stormforged workshop and uncover the truth about the Eye of Tempest.

Set Back:

A sudden storm surge triggers a malfunction in the workshop, forcing an emergency escape.

Revelation:

The Eye of Tempest is sentient and tied to a deeper magical source than anticipated.

GM's Guide:

Create scenes of tension with the players facing puzzles and traps in the workshop. Use atmospheric threats, like electrified floors, to keep stakes high while they explore. Allow for creative problem solving and assign consequences for failure that can hinder their escape.

GM's Move:

Discovering the Eye increases tension and danger, leading to misfires in their tech.

Act 3

Summary:

Having secured the Eye, the players confront the Stormforged leader in an impending storm. They must interact with the Eye to either subdue its power or manipulate it to restore balance in the city, facing choices that will determine the outcome of the storm and the city’s fate.

Location:

The Eye’s Convergence, where magic and storms clash in a mesmerizing but dangerous spectacle.

Challenge:

Defeating the Stormforged leader while maintaining control over the Eye’s chaotic power.

Objective:

Confront the Stormforged leader and resolve the storm crisis using the Eye.

Set Back:

The Eye attempts to drain magic from the players, forcing them to work together to restore their abilities.

Revelation:

The Eye can harness either point towards peace or destruction, depending on how the players decide to treat it.

GM's Guide:

Encourage players to think creatively about how to negotiate with the Eye, weighing the cost of their decisions. Facilitate a combat scene that balances their decision-making regarding the Eye's powers and the Stormforged leader's might; use the environment (dangerous storms) as a tactical advantage during the confrontation.

GM's Move:

The leader, enhanced by the Eye, uses its power against the players, producing chaos.

Climax:

Players successfully reclaim the balance of magic and technology, ending the storms and reshaping city relations.