=== 102 Pen and Paper Adventure | Beta Age | The Man Without A Name === ====== SCENE 01 — THE BRIEFING ====== {{:102_pnp_the_man_without_a_name_illustration_scene_01.png?direct&400|}} ===== 1 | Scene Overview ===== * **Location:** [[office_for_special_operations|Office for Special Operations (OfSO)]], Public Services Ring, [[new_kourou|New Kourou]] * **Type:** Institution · Briefing · Contract Assignment * **Era:** [[beta_age|Beta Age]] * **Tone:** Professional · Subtle tension · Quiet urgency **Atmosphere & Sensory Cues:** Muted market cries through half-closed blinds · the smell of damp soil and ozone from plant terrariums · greenish desk-lamp glow · ticking wall clock · faint clicking sound behind glass ---- ===== 2 | Read-Aloud Description ===== You stand before the Office for Special Operations — two stories of stone tucked beside the Food Market. A wooden plaque reads “OFSO – Office for Special Operations.”Another sign on the door says “09:00–17:00.” It’s 09:12. The door is locked. From inside, you hear a //faint click//, then a soft //scrape//, like something alive shifting across glass. At 09:18, a voice behind you: “Sorry I’m late.” [[ezrah_scherkenstein|Ezrah Scherkenstein]] stands on the walkway, sleeves damp, holding a cloth bag that writhes faintly. “Trader was slow. These [[bero_hiki|Bero Hiki]] are for a guest.” Inside, her office smells of wet soil, tea leaves, and starship metal warming under the diffuse lamp arrays. Plants hang from ceiling hooks; a carnivorous bloom twitches in its terrarium as she passes. Ezrah sets down the bag, wipes her hands on her trousers, and slides a bulletin across the desk — a printed excerpt from the [[local_station_of_the_guarding_troopers_firetown|Local Guarding Trooper Station of Firetown]]: * **UNIDENTIFIED MALE** * //Found wandering the [[ralar|Ralar]] border.// * //Half-naked. Frostbitten. Near-blind.// * //Repeating only: “No talk to others. No name. No confession.”// Ezrah taps the page. “He was picked up on the [[trade_route|Trade Route]] yesterday morning. Troopers classified him as confused and placed him in Firetown’s holding wing — cell four of ten. The station has twenty Troopers on duty, plus five Guardian Bots patrolling the floors. No basement.” She leans back, folding her arms. “The client who filed this request insists on secrecy.No Troopers. No publicity. Seven days to get the man out of that cell and deliver him alive.” Ezrah pulls a sealed envelope from her drawer, placing it between you. “Reward is 20,000 Kourou in total. Client paid 10,000 up front. Your share: 1,500 each, plus 100 Kourou travel budget for the team.” Her voice lowers. “I don’t know who this old man is, or why someone wants him freed. All I know is that this job needs subtlety, timing… and deniability.” She exhales, the ticking wall clock filling the silence. “If you’re willing to take this mission, I’ll bring Martin in. He has tools for you.” {{ :tmwan_read_aloud_scene_01_briefing.mp3 |}} ==== Staged Read-Alouds (Progressive Descriptions) ==== Use these short descriptions when the scene develops or specific cues are triggered. | **Trigger / Timing** | **Read-Aloud or Short Narrative Insert** | | **After main briefing or questioning** | Ezrah pauses, glancing toward the wall. She presses a brass buzzer and speaks in an not visible microphone. “Martin, we’re ready for your probabilities.” Moments later, the door slides open and the tinkerer shuffles in, blinking against the light. “Probability favors odd tools,” he murmurs, placing a cloth roll on the desk. | | **When PCs inspect the terrarium** | Inside the glass case, a coiled bloom twitches toward the movement. Its translucent teeth glint in the green glow — more animal than plant. | | **At scene’s conclusion** | Ezrah leans back, watching them leave. “Try not to make me regret this,” she says softly as the door clicks shut behind them. | ==== Gear Issued (Martin’s kit): ==== * **Bloom-Mist Ampoule × 3:** Crush → 3 m cone; DC 12 CON or sleep 1 min (non-lethal; can be shaken awake). * **Micro-Pulse Jammer (3 charges):** Bonus Action → Guardian Bot within 6 m; DC 13 CON or stunned 1 round. * **Flex-Latch Shim × 1:** Advantage on 1 lockpick check; breaks after use. ---- ===== 3 | Scene Intent ===== | **Scene Type** | **Player Intents** | **DM Function / Story Link** | | **Narrative Scene** | Accept or decline contract · Clarify details · Plan travel | Launches the main mission and starts the 7-day timer | | **Location Scene** | Light roleplay at locked door · Observe OfSO environment | Introduces Ezrah’s personality and the tone of OfSO operations | ---- ===== 4 | Key (N)PCs + Dynamic Cues ===== | **Name** | **Role / Affiliation** | **Motivation / Goal** | **Dynamic Cues — How They React in Play** | **Wiki Link** | | **[[ezrah_scherkenstein|Ezrah Scherkenstein]]** | OfSO Field Director | Test the team’s reliability; complete the contract quietly | • Direct questions → gives crisp, practical answers • Negotiation attempt → dry smile, +250 K bonus if the group proposes a solid plan • Express doubts → offers extra gear instead of reassurance | [[ezrah_scherkenstein|Ezrah Scherkenstein]] | | **[[the_tinkerer|Martin “the Tinkerer”]]** | OfSO workshop engineer | Equip PCs with “probability tools” | • Buzzed in on command • Careful planning → gives 1 extra ampoule • Reckless bragging → warns about Guardian Bots | [[the_tinkerer|Martin “the Tinkerer”]] | ---- ===== 5 | Triggers, Clues & Consequences ===== | **Trigger / Cue (Player Action or Event)** | **Immediate Reaction / Change** | **Ripple Effect / Future Hook** | | 🗣️ **Ask “Who is the client?”** repeatedly | Ezrah stonewalls; offers extra kit instead | Later reveal if PCs keep notes; +1 Trust on final hand-off | | 🗣️ **Negotiate higher pay with solid plan** | +250 K bonus unlocked | Ezrah arranges quiet support at [[new_kourou_courier_station|Courier Station]] | | 🗣️ **Ask about the scars** | She shows a close-up photo: “Three lines over a crooked spiral.” | PCs recognize the mark in Firetown scene | | 🗣️ **Involve Guarding Troopers openly** | Ezrah’s tone hardens; –1 Trust | Firetown Station more alert; suspicion penalty | | 🗣️ **Behave respectfully / efficient** | Earns Ezrah’s approval | OfSO Trust +1; she may intervene later if PCs fail | | ⚙️ **Inspect terrarium / feed plant** | Plant reacts to motion, harmless | Adds flavor and callback to later OfSO scenes | | ⚙️ **Check wall maps or schedules** | Discover caravan departs 11:00; Veyra rental nearby | Leads to next scene ([[new_kourou_courier_station]] or [[mandala_s_mounts|Mandala's Mounts]] | | ⚙️ **Outline a cautious plan** | Martin provides extra Bloom-Mist Ampoule | Advantage in stealth scenes later | | ⚙️ **Study photo closely** | Identify spiral-mark motif | Connects to cult clue in Firetown | | ⚙️ **Waste time or argue** | Clock advances by 10 minutes | Reminder of 7-day deadline pressure | | 💥 **Draw weapon / threaten** | Meeting ends instantly; Ezrah voids contract | Lose OfSO support for remainder of campaign | ---- ===== 6 | DM Notes ===== * **Tone Reminder:** Professional with streaks of dry humor; calm surface hiding intrigue. * **Time Pressure:** Emphasize the ticking wall clock; countdown starts now. * **Money Clarity:** 1 500 K each + 100 K team travel budget. * **Gear Beat:** Give Martin’s kit *after* main dialogue — feels earned. * **Transition Options:** * [[new_kourou_courier_station | New Kourou Courier Station]] — join caravan at 11:00 (secure but slower). * [[mandala_s_mounts|Mandala's Mounts]] — rent Veyras (quick but risky). * **Cross-Links:** [[Firetown]] · [[local_station_of_the_guarding_troopers_firetown|Guarding Trooper Station Firetown]] · [[ezrah_scherkenstein]] · [[office_for_special_operations]] * **Improvisation Rule:** Treat every meaningful player question or gesture as a potential trigger; react through Ezrah’s tone or Martin’s commentary. ==== DM Tutorial: How to approach the scene ==== **Short version:** {{ :dm_briefing_the_briefing_1_.mp3 |}} ===== Related Pages and Further Information ===== * ↑↑ **Start:** [[the_man_without_a_name|The Man Without A Name]] * ★ **Overview:** [[All Scenes of The Man Without A Name|All Scenes of The Man Without A Name]] * → **Next Scene:** [[tmwan_departure_debate|Scene 2 – Travel Preparations]]