Suitable Campaign Age: Any

Adventure Tone: Action-Adventure  

Recommended Power Level: Low or Classic 

Content Warning: Contains many jokes, musical references, and will rock your faces off. 

Overview 

History is what’s remembered. Legends form from the half understood truths that filter their way into the books. What may seem like the head of a spear, forged over five thousand years ago is more legend than history, and for two small time rockers, they are ready to become part of the legend.

Cinderella’s Big Score 

The day opens with the following news story: 

The museum robbery minutes before midnight. A pair of assailants were believed to have hidden in the building, waiting for staff to leave before attempting the theft. The duo targeted a touring display of an ancient spearhead. Located four years ago, the Burning Spear was first located in Spain, and has been making its rounds across the museum circuit following the principle research’s completion. Their motive, and what has become of the spear remain a mystery. 

Screaming Skulls

The police have the museum closed off, but depending on the heroes’ relationship with the police or the museum, they can speak to people, or enter the building. 

Mr or Mrs Exposition, Expression + Etiquette, Advanced (25) Difficulty 

Note: Speaking with the police, Law can be swapped in for Etiquette.  

• Failure: Unsure of what the heroes are looking for, the curator will reiterate the basic facts around the spear.
• Partial: While there is little to go on, the thieves only took the spear and seemed to have no interest in anything else. 
• Success: One of the night guards overheard one of them say that with the spear they would be unstoppable. 
• 1 Degree: One of the museum researchers has been developing a theory that the Burning Spear may not have originally been a spear, but rather a tuning fork or some kind of harmonic due to the angles and shape. However, for these same reasons it may have later been interpreted as a spearhead and added to a weapons cache. 
• 2 Degrees: As the heroes are speaking, one of the guards approaches them nervously, unsure if the information they have is valuable,  stating that one of the thieves was wearing an Alex’s Bar shirt. 

Researching the Burning Spear, Intelligence + Research, Intelligence + Research, Very Advanced Difficulty (30)  

Heroes with 1 Degree of Success on Mr or Mrs Exposition may add their Science as to this roll as well. 

• Failure: Nothing on the spear is readily available beyond the headlines and press releases.
• Partial: The chamber in which the spear was found contained a number of other weapons. However, while the spear dates back five thousand years, most of the other artifacts were half that age. 
• Success: The edge geometry of the spear is both very different from other weapons of that time, and far more precise. Some researchers are puzzled over the method that was used to create the weapon.  This has prompted some speculation in the archeological community as to the nature of the spear.
• 1 Degree: A deeper dive into the shape of the spear shows it shares elements with the crystals used to focus lasers. 
• 2 Degrees: The spear could have been used to focus vibrations or waves but would have needed more than just the crystal itself. 
• 3 Degrees: There is art from the Chalcolithic Iberia (~3000 BCE) that depicts a woman with a lyre adorned with a remarkably similar decoration at its base. The lyre itself is oddly curved, with a Y shape due to the adornments. 

Alex’s Bar

This is a small dive near an industrial district. There is a large fenced in parking area, flanked by commercial buildings on either side. The metal door to the bar is covered in obscure band stickers and doodles. Inside there is a long bar, and some tables across from an open stage. In the back there are a pair of pool tables and a dart board. 

If the heroes look around they will find posters for any number of past events, and an upcoming battle of the bands. 

You Can Do Anything You Want at Alex’s Bar?, Etiquette + Street Smarts, Very Advanced Difficulty (30)

Note: Heroes showing up in all their caped glory increase the Difficulty to Laborious (35). 

If the heroes follow the tip and head to Axel’s Bar they can talk to regulars and the staff for information. 

• Failure: No one recognizes the description, or doesn’t want to talk to the heroes. 
• Partial: The bar did a limited run of shirts, and a few die hard bar goers picked them up. However, there is no way to really pair this with buyers. 
• Success: The description reminds someone of one of the bands that regularly plays at Alex’s. It’s a trio calling themselves the Cotton Crowns. 
• 1 Degree: Once the patrons realize who the heroes are talking about others will chime in. The general consensus is that they are relatively mediocre, but amusing when drunk. 
• 2 Degrees: There is no way they will not be performing at the battle of the bands. 

Wish Fulfillment

Alex’s Bar is hosting a battle of the bands and the Cotton Crowns are going to be playing. Who are the Cotton Crowns? Why the pair of jokers and thieves who stole the spear. The band is made up of three members, the lead singer Hutch, the drummer and van driver Jerry, and guitarist Warlock, named for his Warlock guitar. For the show, Warlock has crudely affixed the spear to the end of his guitar. 

If unobstructed, the band will put on a killer show. The Burning Spear amplifies sonic vibrations and Hutch and Warlock believe it’s enough to make them the greatest band in the world. There’s a problem though, well a few: 

1. They don’t know how the spear works. 
2. They haven’t set it up properly. 
3. They’re just not that good. 

Due to their ignorance, the Cotton Crowns inflict major damage to the building and deafen anyone in attendance. Those in the seats closest to the stage will be killed once Hutch screams at the guitar as if it was his mic. 

Talking Down the Cotton Crowns, Mental + Etiquette (or Art: Performance, or Wealth (Got money?)), Hard (45) Difficulty 

If the heroes arrive before the Cotton Crowns go on, they can attempt to talk them out of performing. 

• Failure: Hutch will panic and tell everyone to start playing. See, Death to Our Friends
• Partial: The band will begin arguing over the spear and trying to find some way out of here. The heroes can make a Dexterity + Sleight of Hand roll to grab the spear, otherwise the fight leads to rocking, which leads to the Death of Our Friends. 
• Success: The band will concede that there is no shortcut to rock godhood. They will however insist that the heroes do a video with them playing on stage. 

Death to Our Friends

If the heroes arrive during the battle of the bands, they can prevent the catastrophe.

• Stakes: As outlined above.    
• Size 2 – Alex’s Bar
• Ferocity 5 – Powerful music  
• Target 35
• Damage 4 Penetrating  
• Success Threshold 9
• Starting Advantage 7
• Notes: Ear protection or audio filters allow Armor to be applied.  

Disappearer

If the Cotton Crowns perform without the heroes showing up, they will go on the run. The trio will pop up from time to time still trying to get the Burning Spear to work with similar results, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Each time, they will change their band’s name trying to avoid the association with their last blunder. 

Aftermath 

If the heroes successfully talk the Cotton Crowns down, they can take them as a Contact, and Alex’s Bar as an Area of Influence. This not only gives them insight into the music scene, but can be useful for people trying to keep a low profile. 

Postscript 

This Adventure Seed comes with a playlist. 

Did we miss a song reference? Post a comment below with the scene and the song and if we agree, we’ll add it to the playlist.