A Tale of Two Free Cities, which is available both on DTRPG and RPGTrader. I hope that you will enjoy running it as much as I did.
When an Infernal tractatus is found in the possession of an NPC that turned on the Covenant, the troupe has one lead: something is rotten in the city of Köln.
A Tale of Two Free Cities is an extensive mystery adventure for Ars Magica 5th Edition. It includes everything that a storyguide needs to run the scenario in approximately 12 hours. On Halloween 1227, an Infernal trap is sprung on a member of the Covenant. The first thread of this corruption leads to a nunnery in the city of Köln, where the characters can find clues leading to Wetzlar, which is being corrupted by Infernal forces.
This is a multi-location sandbox, where the characters have the opportunity to make supernatural allies to battle the forces of the Infernal. It is designed to fit within in the Curse of the Rhine Gorge saga (described in the Rhine Tribunal book, Guardians of the Forest) and the Infatuated Diabolist plot line from the Antagonist book. It contains notes on how to easily tweak the adventure to fit into an ongoing saga, as the Covenant investigates the Infernal corruption of an NPC.
Incorporating real events and historical personalities, it slots into a high-research saga; a historian from the region was consulted to capture the local folklore. This includes a fully fleshed out Mythic Wetzlar along with the supernatural forces within and around. Includes a foreword by local historian Felix A. Mazak.
This scenario is released under the Ars Magica Open License.
This adventure was created without the use of generative AI; the text, art and illustrations were made by real people.
Since this is the discussion thread, I can go a bit more into details.
Being an investigation-focused sandbox, the scenario uses a Conspyramid (idea from Delta Green) to map out the infernal threat. The adventure is somewhat Call of Cthulhu-esque.
The theme of elite capture of power and their personal failings being weaponised to unsettle society is inspired by Luke Kemp's book Goliath's Curse.
An excellent video on Albert the Great, who is featured in the adventure is available here. Dr Justin Sledge publishes a number of video on esoteric/occult themes which provide ample fuel for the imagination of Storyguides, myself included.
Feel free to let me know in this thread what you thought of it, as getting feedback is the best way for me to keep developing supplements that the community enjoys.
