Tabletop Quest: Stolen Transformation Watch

The following is an easy-ish quest one can use as a tabletop adventure scenario.

Setting: It is the 1980's. The secret era has been for some time and things have mostly calmed down for ability users. It is still a time of mystery and secrets. While ability users hide from the "Normal Folk" they are still well hidden to even some of thier own! During this time some have begun to examine the Great Dissapearance. A mysterious event in which most Transfomation Item Users have vanished. One such mechanic, Mark, has decided to make a device to emulate thier powers. He has succeeded! Unfortunately the device has been stolen. It is the quest taker(s) goal to get this object back for him.

Success Conditions: Find the stolen device and return it to Mark. Damaged or intact.

Failure Conditions: Exposing ability user powers to non-ability people, something bad happens to Mark.

Starting Area 1:

* Mark has created a workshop near an abandoned mine. You begin in his workshop where he is. It is a small room with a lot of mechanical objects and blueprints. Among the objects are a projector of some kind, a fax machine, and a small stove. One corner is conspicuously empty of things. If players talk to Mark and decide to wait here for a trader to arrive, one of the three traders from area 4 will come here. Quest Giver will decide which one comes.

Major NPC: Mark

* Mark is a Mechanic, and one of the people investigating artificial ability devices. Unlike the others, he has decided to look into Crystal tech. Technology using magic crystals. He is a nice fellow and will gladly offer to help if asked.
* Stats: Mark isn't very powerful, but is good at making things.
* Ability: Mechanic
* Gear: Has no gear on his person, but if asked he can make some for himself with spare parts from his workshop.
* Special interactions:

1. When asked for information he will tell the players that he knows some travelling shopkeepers that have information, as well as the schedule for when they stop by to trade with him if the players want to wait. If they ask where they can go to meet one, he will direct them to Area 4 (see below)
2. If asked to join the player he will decline at first, but if asked again or convinced he will come with you.
3. If asked about payment or if a reward he will give the player a piece of silver crystal, which is very rare and valuable at this era. He will the promise more when you return his device.
4. If asked for supplies he will direct the player to his store room and give them a few useful small things. See area 2 (see below)
5. If a mechanic asks if they can learn the secret to his transformation items, he let them see schematics and will tell them to test out their creation and let him know how well it performs. Mark is very interested in collaboration.

Special material: Silver Crystal

* Properties: Has a very smooth surface but does not reflect well.
* Potion Use: Can help one control Were-Creature powers.
* Mechanical Use: Transformation Items
* Other uses: ???
* Value: High. As a trade item people will give the player something nice in return such as goods or information.

Area2: Marks Storage Room

* If players ask Mark for supplies, he will take them here. There isn't much aside from food and metal. If the player is cooperative, he will give them a little food, some metal, and maybe another random object.

Area 3: Abandoned Mine

* An area a little off the beaten path. It is full of metals and crystals. It is also full of natural magic, which can be gathered as energy materials. There are not many monsters here.

Area 4: Woods, campground.

* A nearby woods. Players will be directed here if they ask about getting information and decide not to wait. There are three tents and a campfire in the center. Some NPC's will be here, two or all three? This is up to the quest giver to determine. This can be settled with a dice roll if you want to make it random. They can be talked to to find out where the thief went. Since they are traders, they also act as shops.

NPCs

Jessie One of the three traders.'

* She's pretty smart. She knows a lot of people and can tell you which Mechanics are more shady than others.
* Stats: Pretty strong. You don't want to make her mad at you.
* Ability: Analyst
* Gear: Has a large pack with trade goods.
* This NPC is a shop: Will have some foods, spices, and some weapons.
* Special interactions:

1. Jessie can tell if someone is lying by using her ability. If someone tries to lie to her she will laugh and tell them she can tell they are lying. She is not too offended by mere words.
2. Can tell who has what ability.
3. She is friends with Mark, so any mention of him will get her to help the player.
4. She knows a person who might be responsible for the theft. She will direct the player to a place the thief goes to regularly, Area 5. She will also tell them the secret password to tell the "owner". The secret password is to order something off the "special menu". The dish is one of two things.

* 1. Show special ability if no other people are around.
* 2. Use a codeword for the ability like An Alchemist would order soup (potions) or something

Dirk One of the three traders

* Dirk isn't very smart. He's almost gotten a look at who stole the device! He might not trust you unless you can produce some sort of evidence your ability users. Since he has almost gotten caught by non-ability using folk, he will badly try to hide and hint that you need to show him an ability.
* Stats: Not too smart, but strong enough to be medium.
* Ability: Jewelcrafter
* Gear: He is wearing a few rings that cast spells when he wants to. Mostly for protection against wild animals and monsters.
* This NPC is a shop: Has some cured meats and some crystals of various magical kinds.
* Special interactions:

1. Will try to badly hide he is an ability user. If the player has already talked to Jessie, she will call him dumb and point out that the players are clearly ability users.
2. Will direct the players towards Area 5, but may know about the appearance of the thief.

??? One of the three traders (You may name this person)

* A nice person, they will try to help the player but will be unable to since they don't know anything. They can direct the player to one of the other two. Likes animals.
* Stats: Pretty weak
* Ability: Alchemist
* Gear: A few potions, mostly for healing but some are attack potions.
* This NPC is a shop: Some herbs, potions, and non-magical edible plants.
* Special interactions:

1. If asked for info, will direct the player to someone else for info.

Area 5: "Food Place" (You can name this something classy)

* a restaurant. Supposedly the thief likes to go here. It looks like a normal restaurant on the outside but there is a secret mechanism

Charles

* "Owner" of the "restaurant". Will be at the front desk and will ask someone what dish they want.
* Stats: He will mess up anyone who crosses him. That's why he's at the counter.
* Ability: Mage
* Gear: Clothes are actually magically made to be stronger than normal somehow.
* This NPC is a shop?: Will sell food, but that's clearly not why your here is it?
* Special interactions:

1. when given the correct passphrase he will open a secret compartment below the resteraunt for ability users.
2. If asked for actual food before this he will act like a normal restaurant owner. The food is actually good there too.
3. If asked for food after proving one is an ability user, he will laugh and say he can help, offering to sell some food.

Area 6: Area under the restaurant

* A secret gathering area for ability users. Since this is the secret era, it isn't too large or full of people. Only a few people here at a time. Has a few facilities, mostly for ability user folks. There are two people down here right now that can help.

??? (You can name this person)

* A cook, actually the cook of the restaurant above. Will ask the players to test a new dish that is really spicy and apologize if they don't like it.
* Stats: Average
* Ability: Cook
* Gear: Just chef stuff
* Special interactions:

1. If someone mentions they can cook, will get really competitive, yet still friendly like a rivel of some kind.
2. Will know the thief if you mention them, saying they give everyone lots of trouble. Will then tell you where the thief's hideout is. Area 7.

??? (You may name this NPC)

* A mechanic who is responsible for all the stuff used to build the secret compartment.
* Stats: Surprisingly strong.
* Ability: Mechanic
* Gear: has some hidden gadgets on their person that are pretty powerful if provoked. hidden otherwise.
* Special interactions:

1. Doesn't like to be bothered but will help if asked. Knows the person but doesn't know too much about them. Will know a little about where to find the person but will say the cook nearby knows more.
2. If told the plans for the transformation item they will get right to work on making one for themself and may reward the player.
3. Knows Mark and is friends with him. Knows many other mechanics if asked.

Area 7: The thief's hideout.

* The hideout of the thief. It's basically a warehouse. Supposedly it belongs to a company, but secretly it's really owned by the thief. The warehouse if locked, so the player has to get in some way. Either through a window, or something else. You can add robots as sentries, but they will not be super advanced. They are basic. It is still the 80s after all. There can be other protections or not depending on the play style of the players.

Hostile NPC

Sirus the Thief

* A mechanic who grew envious of Mark and decided to steal his device. Decides to use it himself if attacked.
* Stats: The boss of this quest. Not too high, has the armor. If he deploys it he will be much stronger.
* Ability: Mechanic
* Gear: The transformation device, which cloaks him in a cloth like armor that deflects bullets
* Special interactions:

1. If you can sneak in without him noticing, you may be able to take knock him out stealthy like and prevent him from using the device.
2. He can be turned in to the "restaurant" for a reward