The Clockwork Conspiracy

Unveil a political plot within the mechanical heart of Steamtown.

In the bustling city of Steamtown, a sprawling metropolis powered by steam and gears, a group of daring adventurers discover a secret: the city’s clock tower, the central power of Steamtown, is set to malfunction in three days. This malfunction will not only disrupt daily life but risks the city’s complete shutdown. They must unravel a conspiracy thread woven by a societal faction who benefit from the chaos, solve mechanical enigmas, and navigate the dangerous politics of the city to reset the clock before time runs out.

The World

Context

Steamtown thrives on its intricate system of steam-powered machines, maintained by skilled engineers and guilds. With no magic, the city relies heavily on mechanical technology, creating a social divide between those who understand the machines and those who do not. Political power is closely tied to mechanical control, creating intense rivalry and intrigue.

Concept

The city operates on a giant central clock tower governing all mechanical flows.

Impact

This clock dictates the city’s rhythm; any disruption affects transport, industry, and governance.

The Plot

Summary

As the players unveil the plot against the clock tower, they interact with various steampunk elements integral to Steamtown—steam-powered carriages, automatons, and intricate mech-works. Their journey through this urban jungle involves: deciphering encoded messages hidden in steam vents, dealing with the Machinist’s Guild who are secretly pulling the strings, and confronting various factions vying for control. The looming malfunction acts as a ticking timer, heightening tensions as failures lead to mechanical breakdowns across Steamtown. Players must reset the clock’s mechanism, a task requiring political savvy, engineering skills, and cunning to avoid tipping power into darker hands.

Complication

They learn a key engineer is under duress, needing rescue or persuasion.

Hook

Clock tower will fail, leading to city-wide chaos in 3 days.

World stakes

Steamtown’s infrastructure collapses, causing economic and societal chaos.

Personal stakes

Failure results in players being branded saboteurs.

The Acts

Act 1

Summary:

Players begin at the Mechanist’s Guild, where they learn of the impending clock failure. Accusations fly, and players must discern truth from deception. The act involves investigating the Guild’s archives and uncovering a hidden message pointing to a saboteur.

Location:

Mechanist’s Guild, filled with brass and steamworks.

Challenge:

Gaining access to guarded archives and suspicious guild members.

Objective:

Uncover the initial conspiracy behind the clock failure.

Set Back:

Guild members are suspicious, limiting player's access to vital areas.

Revelation:

The sabotage plan originates from within the Guild.

GM's Guide:

Focus on creating a tense atmosphere with the constant noise of gears. Use ambient sounds and descriptions of steam to heighten sensory detail. Encourage players to explore creatively using available technology.

GM's Move:

Discovering that someone has tampered with the clock’s plans.

Act 2

Summary:

The players follow clues to the underbelly of Steamtown where factions plot. Through alleys and hidden speakeasies, they encounter an oppressed engineer who holds vital intel. Navigating allegiances, they must secure his cooperation while evading hostile agents from a rival faction.

Location:

Steamtown's bustling underbelly, full of secretive life.

Challenge:

Winning trust and cooperation amidst rampant paranoia.

Objective:

Secure cooperation from the knowledgeable engineer.

Set Back:

The engineer is hesitant, fearing repercussions.

Revelation:

The rival faction intends to escalate chaos for takeover.

GM's Guide:

Use the environment’s claustrophobia—tight alleyways and crowded markets—to create suspense. Encourage negotiation and diplomacy, highlighting the social stratifications and tensions in Steamtown.

GM's Move:

Rival faction amps their pressure, causing public unrest.

Act 3

Summary:

With the engineer’s cooperation, they must return to the clock tower. Amidst heightened security and political tensions, they execute a daring plan to repair and reset the clock. This involves overcoming technical challenges and misleading security to realign the clock’s main gearworks, saving Steamtown.

Location:

Clock tower’s heart, a massive, intricate gear system.

Challenge:

Realigning the clockwork under tense circumstances.

Objective:

Repair and reset the city's central clock mechanism.

Set Back:

A key mechanical part breaks, needing impromptu repairs.

Revelation:

The city's entire political system hinges on the clock's operation.

GM's Guide:

Maintain high stakes with a ticking countdown. Utilize NPC motivations; guards suspicious, machinists panicked. Highlight the intricacies of machinery to encourage creative problem-solving and team dynamics.

GM's Move:

Guards double efforts and citizen unrest multiplies.

Climax:

Successfully resetting the clock restores order, balancing power and highlighting player decisions.