“The Emperor will never die. The sun will never
rise. These are the immutable facts that we live
b y.”
—K, I C T
Your lives—and more—have been dedicated to
finding a means of unseating the Emperor from
his throne. Now it is finally in your grasp.
End of the Undying
Broken Spire is a Blades in the Dark playset about
revolutionaries set on breaking the shackles of
the Emperor's rule. They may seek power for
themselves, champion political reform, or have
a personal grudge. We'll play to find out what
favors they must garner, what occult rituals they
must perform, and which devil's bargains they
must accept to have a shot at the Emperor himself.
Broken Spire may be played in single session or a
short campaign. The game opens at the moment
of insurrection and uses a series of flashbacks
to determine how the crew prepared for the
Emperor's defenses and the inevitable fall out of
ending his reign. If played in a single session, each
flashback is a single scene. If played in a campaign,
each includes complete a score and downtime.
As a group, you'll decide how close the emperor is
to your grasp. Select how to end the immortal,
your opportunity, and your foil. For each
choice, answer the questions that follow.
Broken Spire
End The Immortal
How do you kill a man who broke the Gates of Death?
Lamring
At the tip of the Astral Spire lies Lamring, the silver dagger the
Emperor used to pry open the gates of death. A perfect strike
from it into his quicksilver-filled undead heart will break his
hold on eternity and steal his immortality.
What curse haunts this blade and any who keep it in their
possession? (Eyes that reveal all misdeeds—Endless waking—
Haunting by the souls it has taken)
In addition to his immortality, what part of the Emperor will
transfer to his vanquisher? (His memories—his passions—his
fears)
Ritual of Unbinding
There exist a single spell that will break the Emperor's
command over his fellow demons of earth, air, sea, and fire.
Which of the Forgotten Gods lost their son when the
Emperor created the first spell of binding? (The Silver Fire—
The Burned King—The Hand of Sorrow)
What did you promise them to teach you the ritual to break
his spell (A millennium of worship—The Emperor's eternal
torment—a child of your own)
Uprising
No individual has the might to defeat the Emperor, but
without his scions and commanders the mechanism of the
Empire itself will fail just as sure as lightning tower deprived of
electropasm. Gain their support and you may see the empire
to a new day.
Of these factions you need support from, who cannot be
trusted? (Spirit Wardens—Imperial Military—Ministry of
Preservation)
Who named a price? (Inspectors—Quicksilver Guard—
Leviathan Hunters) What was it? (A demon's true name—
Betrayal of the Lord Governor (-3 faction status)—Raven,
most loyal member of your crew as a hostage)
Opportunity
Through years of planning and sacrifice, you've arranged for
a moment when the Emperor and many of his closest cohorts
will be distracted. During this moment of transition, you have
a chance to strike. Which of these did you arrange?
Investiture: On Gratitude, the holiday that celebrates his
ascension, the Immortal Emperor is going to turn the Astral
Spire and all within it to stone, as he unveils his newest
wonder: A sun of his own creation that will protect the
people of Imperial City from the ghosts that haunt it.
Assimilation: On the stones of Kotar's rest, Imperial City's
most sacred monument, Rhal IV, emissary of Tycheros, has
come to sign the accords, which will place Tycheros within
the empire. His list of demands is legendary.
Secession: The Sky Fleet, composed of four Iruvian
Leviathan Hunters, meets the Bastion, the Emperor's
naval destroyer, on the Void Sea. The Iruvian delegates
Eshala Ankhayt and Elstera Avrathi of House Anixis will
deliver Iruvia's declaration of sovereignty, seceding from
the Empire. This entails the closing of all traffic lanes and
reclaiming their Leviathan Hunter fleets.
Foil
Amar, Inspector General of Imperial City, the eyes of the
Emperor. Was it you or one of your associates that tipped
her off? What did she learn from your former leader Zephyr,
whom she now has in chains?
Telsius, Commander of the Quicksilver Guard, the arm
of the Emperor. How does he always know when you are
present? Why are your weapons ineffectual against him?
The First, Overseer of the Spirit Wardens, the will of
the Emperor. Which of you has he captured before? What
overwhelming terror does he invoke in you now?
Lord Strangford, newly appointed head of the Ministry
of Preservation and Leviathan Hunting fleets. How did his
spy Crowl infiltrate your crew? Why have you been unable
to remove them?
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