Free Adventure - The Strange Curious Disappearance of Oberleutnant Schmitz
Suggested System Lamentation of the Flame Princess Suggested Character Level 1-5 for up to 7 players
Further suggested at least one player play an Elf of at least Level 3 with surgically altered ears and connections to either Miskatonic University, Madame Blavatsky, or Henry Steel Olcott's Theosophical Society.
Time - This adventure takes place 2 years after the end of WWI in the Late Spring or Early June of 1920.
Starting Location The Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club in a very private and most austere drawing room.
There are two gentlemen from Lloyds and a German from Mercedes-Benz here along with a deaf butler. Let up to 2 players speak sign language if they insist.
- The Deaf Butler Halberth is an older servant and works for Mr. Smythe – age 77 *** Mr Smythe speaks sign language fluently and Mr. Trimble is very much a beginner
- From Lloyd’s Mr Smythe (the boss of the two and the butler Halberth) -age 52
- From Lloyd’s Mr Trimble (Mr. Smythe’s underling) age 31
- From Mercedes The Famous Engineer Mr. Jonas Dieter Schmitz age 64
The players will be instructed they know and have worked for Mr. Trimble in the past and only know Mr Smythe by reputation. That reputation is that not a stone is overturned or an egg cracked in all of His Majesty’s England without Mr Smythe’s knowledge. **Your option if the PC’s know each other or have worked together. However none of them should know the Elf.
On a roll of 1-3d6 a player may be on friendly enough terms with Mr. Trimble to have a beer after hours with him. Then if that roll is made have player roll d6 again 1-2 they know Mr. Trimble as Agent 001 of His Majesty’s Secret Service (try not to let the other player’s know).
I suggest going to Old Maps Online and getting a few Isle of Wight maps from the 20’s & 30’s. The Duver St Helen’s for the Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club may be welcomed at the table.
Due to the timeline Switchblade knives, revolvers, automatic pistols, and crude sub machine guns will have to be allowed. Grenades and dynamite as well. Have players roll d20 the highest roll gets a scroll of turn undead as if cast by Level 5 Cleric. Have players that didn’t get the item roll d20’s and the highest gets a ring of Protection from Evil 10’ with 2 charges. That is all the goodies for now.
Opening Phase A The players have been summoned by Mr. Trimble under premise – Great Adventure & Profit. Lloyd’s has need of your talents & service yet again.
As they enter the room they are greeted by Mr. Trimble who takes the lead. He introduces everyone to Mr. Smythe and the esteemed German Engineer from Mercedes Mr. Schmitz. Then Mr. Trimble informs the party that the Golf Club Staff will not be available. We have the services of Mr. Smythe’s Private Butler Mr. Halberth for today’s luncheon meeting. Do be kind as Mr. Halberth is deaf. Mr. Smythe or myself can communicate with him.
Then Mr. Smythe draws forth from under his coat a Luger Carbine and attaches the stock. “Last Chance my dear agents of Lloyd’s to leave this business. For I’m going to close and lock the doors now. What we are about to discuss is never to be spoken outside of this room.”
As he is locking the doors the German speaks, “ Now Mr. Smythe! Are such dramatics necessary? I know you have lost a whole team already working on my lost son’s disappearance! I don’t want or need the guilt of more widows & orphans in the world.”
"Your source of information is not so faultless Mr. Schmitz. We have only misplaced one agent. That it was a double 00 was most misfortunate”, said Mr. Smythe.
Then Mr. Trimble says while looking each PC in the eye - “Perhaps a little demonstration of the uniqueness of this team I have assembled. resting his eyes on the Elf Please cast us a spell to alleviate my friend’s concerns.” Then spoken in Elvish “Something Flash to astonish him.”
***Free form it with the players up until a point where Mr. Smythe should finish detailing out the mission.
The Mission: During WWI Mr. Schmitz’s son the Oberleutnant Schmitz flew his WWI Gotha Bomber over the Island of Wight. In the fog his bomber had gone off course and he mistook a church for a military target. Bombing the church. Sometime after the war he had learned of his mistake and that several innocent lives had died from the bombing. The church was damaged so severally that it had to be demolished.
Unable to live with the guilt our Oberleutnant decided to use his connections to Mercedes-Benz and other wealthy companies to raise money to rebuild the church. He flew into the island to be at a ground breaking ceremony. The Oberleutnant checked into a hotel and went to the construction site that night unable to wait for the ceremony in the morning. He has not been seen since leaving the hotel now five months ago.
A few weeks ago 005 was sent to investigate. Last seen by a cabby using a phone booth on the island.
Now Mr. Trimble has ID’s, Cover Stories, and the lot for you. You are all to be Insurance Agents, Underwriters, Building Inspectors, and Journalist. We will have you stay at the same hotel as Agent 005 and the Oberleutnant.
***Let them have some choice as to their cover story, alias names, and other spy stuff. Inform them that Q will meet them at the hotel with his usual assortment of toys.
This Ends Phase A. I will post links for Phase B and C later. Stay Tuned for More.
