The False Relic

From: Grand Conclave of Appraisal

The Hook: A wealthy patron approaches the adventurers, desperate to authenticate a recently purchased “legendary” artifact before the Conclave’s grand auction. They suspect it might be an elaborate fake.

The Twist: The artifact IS real, but cursed. It subtly skews appraisal results, making other potential treasures appear worthless and diverting suspicion.

Adventure Path: The adventurers must discern the curse, track down its origins (potentially involving disgruntled rivals or vengeful spirits), and find a way to break it in time for the auction.

Lore Expansion: The Cursed Relic

• The Artifact’s Nature: The relic itself could be anything that fits thematically with your world – an ancient amulet, a chipped blade said to belong to a forgotten hero, or even a seemingly simple tapestry with hidden significance.
• The Curse’s Origin: Consider these possibilities:
  • Rival’s Revenge: A jealous appraiser, slighted during a previous deal by the wealthy patron, cursed the artifact out of spite.
  • Ancient Trap: The relic might be a leftover from a lost civilization, a lure for unsuspecting treasure hunters carrying a subtle taint.
  • Spirit’s Lament: The object could be bound to a restless spirit, its anguish warping the true nature of treasures around it.
• The Curse’s Effect: More than just false readings, the curse subtly manipulates the user’s motivations. They might grow increasingly suspicious of even genuinely valuable items, distrustful of their own skills, and even become paranoid about rivals sabotaging their findings.

Tier One Character Considerations

• Essential Skills:
  • Appraisal (Obviously): Even at tier one, some proficiency is needed to spot initial inconsistencies and fuel their suspicion.
  • Lore/History: Knowledge of past civilizations, famous artifacts, or the nature of curses can point them in the right direction.
  • Perception/Investigation: Noticing subtle changes in the patron’s behavior, detecting lingering magical traces on the relic, etc.
• Preparation:
  • Tools: Basic appraiser’s kit (magnifying glass, reference books). Consider budgeting for a few single-use enchantment-detection scrolls if resources allow.
  • Contacts: Making initial inquiries with reputable sages or historians in the festival might provide early clues.
• Cost:
  • Time: Biggest investment, as the quest operates on a time limit before the auction.
  • Fees: Sages might want payment, replacing broken tools, etc.
  • Potential Loss: Failing the quest could damage reputation with the patron, impacting future work.
• Positives:
  • Goodwill: Saving the patron from a disastrous auction earns gratitude and potential future patronage.
  • Exposure: Success within the Conclave can build reputation among appraisers.
  • Learning Experience: Dealing with a cursed artifact offers valuable knowledge for future encounters.
• Negatives:
  • Distraction: The quest might draw focus away from the festival’s other opportunities.
  • Danger: Depending on the curse’s origin, there could be direct threats from rivals or spirits.
  • Moral Dilemma: If breaking the curse is complex, they might need to make tough choices.
• Tags: Deception, Mystery, Investigation, Social Interaction, Occult Lore
• Rewards:
  • Financial: Fee from the patron, potential to salvage the relic itself post-curse
  • Reputational: Recognition within the appraisal community
  • Potential Artifact: If the curse is broken safely, the relic might be gifted to them

Guide-Manager steps and potential variations to tailor this quest to your group:

• Step 1: The Patron’s Plea
  • Setup: The patron is visibly anxious, emphasizing the high cost of the artifact and the disastrous consequences of selling a fake at the auction. They’re willing to pay a fee for a discreet appraisal.
  • Skill Opportunities: Perception to notice the patron’s unease, Lore (History) to recognize their name or reputation, social checks (persuasion/intimidation) to delve into their motivations.
  • Variation: The patron might be aloof and arrogant instead, needing to be convinced that the players are even worthy of the task.
• Step 2: Initial Appraisal
  • Setup: The artifact gives strangely inconsistent results. One moment it seems potent, the next it appears utterly mundane.
  • Skill Opportunities: Appraisal is key here, but failures should reveal odd discrepancies, not outright “worthless” results. Even low-tier characters should sense something is amiss.
  • Variation: If the player group has diverse skills, weave in opportunities for unrelated knowledge – perhaps a character with Nature proficiency senses a strange disharmony in the materials.
• Step 3: Tracing the Artifact’s History
  • Setup: Research is needed. Sages, historians, or old libraries within the Conclave might know about similar relics or curse patterns.
  • Skill Opportunities: Lore, Investigation, social persuasion to deal with knowledgeable NPCs who might demand payment or favors.
  • Variation: Information could be fragmented, requiring the players to piece together clues from multiple sources.
• Step 4: Identifying the Curse
  • Setup: This could be a breakthrough moment or a gradual realization – a specific inscription, a strange residue only visible under arcane light, etc.
  • Skill Opportunities: Arcana/Occult knowledge, careful Investigation, perhaps even deciphering a coded message left by the curse’s creator.
  • Variation: The curse might manifest in other ways, subtly influencing the player’s own appraisal checks on seemingly unrelated objects.
• Step 5: The Curse’s Origin
  • Setup: Clues should point towards one of the lore possibilities: the bitter rival, a lost tomb, a spirit’s resting place, etc.
  • Skill Opportunities: More investigation, potentially tracking down specific sellers in the Conclave’s marketplace for information.
  • Variation: Red herrings are your friend! Perhaps the rival DID try a cruder forgery, but that’s not the current curse’s source.
• Step 6: Confronting the Source
  • Setup: This varies greatly depending on your chosen origin.
  • Rival: A social confrontation, exposing their scheme. Potentially combat if they’re desperate.
  • Tomb: A delve into a hidden location (mini-dungeon!), traps and guardians possible.
  • Spirit: Requires a more nuanced approach. Banishment, calming the spirit, etc.
  • Skill Opportunities: Tailor these to the confrontation. Negotiation, spellcasting, navigating traps, deciphering ancient rituals – keep it diverse!
• Step 7: Breaking the Curse
  • Setup: Research and the confrontation should provide clues on how to undo it. This could be a specific ritual, a purifying spell, or even returning the object to its rightful place.
  • Skill Opportunities: Relevant magic, more Lore, potentially crafting a specific counter-enchantment.
  • Variation: Make the cure costly – rare ingredients, requiring a difficult favor from an NPC, etc.
• Step 8: Time Pressure
  • Setup: The auction looms! Reminders of the deadline increase tension.
  • Variation: Perhaps the curse worsens over time, making other festival activities difficult, pushing the players to prioritize.
• Step 9: Resolution
  • Success: The relic is saved; the patron is overjoyed. Reward and reputation boost ensue.
  • Partial Success: They break the curse in the nick of time, but at great cost.
  • Failure: The artifact is sold as a fake, the patron is ruined, and the players might need to deal with the fallout.