Cursebreakers in the Glimmering Sands

Retrieve an artifact to save their cursed ally in a desert city.

The party's friend has been cursed by an ancient artifact hidden within the Glimmering Sands, a desert where magic and technology coalesce under celestial influence. To save their friend, they must investigate a mystical desert city and recover a legendary relic said to break the curse. As they delve deeper, they uncover long-buried secrets that tie the artifact to the fate of the city itself, revealing opportunistic undead factions vying for its power. The clock is ticking, with the curse intensifying each day, forcing players to navigate a web of intrigue, cross-cultural tensions among desert races, and the underpinning magic-tech enigma.

The World

Context

In the world of Glimmering Sands, magic is both ubiquitous and tightly controlled by technocratic authorities co-ruling with mystical celestial overseers. The desert’s unique properties amplify magic-tech synergies, fostering a society where function and ritual are intertwined. Halflings, Beast Folk, Celestials, and Undead inhabit these lands, with each race contributing their distinct narratives to a world thriving amidst arid beauty.

Concept

Magic-tech relics emit celestial energies that affect ecology and society.

Impact

Alters societal hierarchies, causing conflicts over control and exploitation of relics.

The Plot

Summary

The players' mission is to retrieve an artifact said to lift a harmful curse afflicting their friend. This journey takes them to the heart of the desert's mystical city, home to a blend of technology and magic that maintains order. To succeed, they'll need to navigate the labyrinthine streets, missionary halfling guides, and an enigmatic celestial seer. Players must contend with the undead, newly aware of their cursed friend's link to a relic that grants power over the living. As they piece together the city's arcane history, they unravel the artifact's true nature—its power tied to the city's safeguarding technologies. Throughout their quest, the curse worsens daily, threatening irreversible damage if they delay.

Complication

Undead factions ambush the party, drawn by relic's power and ally's curse link.

Hook

Their ally is cursed by a powerful artifact.

World stakes

The relic could destabilize regional power balances.

Personal stakes

The ally's life is in imminent danger.

The Acts

Act 1

Summary:

Players arrive at the mystical desert city. Guided by halfling diviners, they begin their investigation into the artifact's whereabouts. Local tensions between celestials enforcing magical law and rebellious undead create an unstable environment. Information surfaces about an underground marketplace where the artifact might be found.

Location:

Mystical desert city; feature: floating market powered by wind-turbine magic.

Challenge:

Navigating linguistic barriers and local trade customs.

Objective:

Discover the artifact's potential location in the city.

Set Back:

A misunderstanding with celestial law forces a detour.

Revelation:

Artifact linked to local disturbances.

GM's Guide:

Start with a sense of urgency and wonder—the desert city is both alien and familiar. Use NPCs to flesh out cultural intricacies and hint at the dual-natured laws of the city. Emphasize the city vibe through unique magic-tech inventions alongside traditional desert elements.

GM's Move:

Celestial guards clamp down on illegal magical activities.

Act 2

Summary:

Venturing below the city, players explore the ancient catacombs where mystics imbued relics with celestial power. The pursuit becomes dangerous when undead factions collide, hoping to seize the artifact for themselves. Players must overcome traps and negotiate with an undead chieftain whose knowledge is crucial to their quest.

Location:

Ancient underground catacombs; feature: luminescent glyphs.

Challenge:

Countering undead manipulation and navigating trap-laden corridors.

Objective:

Secure the artifact amid undead conflict.

Set Back:

The artifact's position is obscured by a curse-fueled illusion.

Revelation:

Artifact cursed to protect rather than harm.

GM's Guide:

Ramp up tension through eerie atmospherics and relic-hunting traps. Precarious alliances form between the party and local factions. Create thrilling moments where players balance diplomacy against impending threats.

GM's Move:

Undead attempts to strike a faustian bargain with the artifact.

Act 3

Summary:

With the artifact in hand, players rush to dispel the curse. In a climactic showdown above the city, celestial forces demand the relic's return, threatening to tear the city apart if refused. Players must choose between their ally's freedom and the societal balance.

Location:

Ancient desert tower; feature: enchantment amplifiers.

Challenge:

Balancing celestial demands against their personal mission.

Objective:

Remove the curse with the artifact.

Set Back:

Ally’s condition drastically deteriorates, limiting time.

Revelation:

Artifact fuels the city's protective wards.

GM's Guide:

Craft high-stakes drama, emphasizing the tension between personal loyalty and broader consequences. Permit creative problem-solving and encourage players to negotiate or challenge celestial authority.

GM's Move:

Celestial conflict threatens the city's stability.

Climax:

The curse is lifted, players must negotiate the artifact's fate.