Gears of Intrigue | 1st-level 5th Edition Adventure (Patreon)

Hey, everyone! Apologies for the delay on this one, it got a bit bigger than I originally planned, but that's to your benefit! This is part 1 of 2 for the introductory adventure arc for the Etheria steampunk setting previously released. As previously discussed, it includes this week's new monsters and magic items. Part 2 will come out next week!

Let me know what you think of this format!

~ TJ Phoenix

This Adventure Pack includes:

• 25-Page Adventure PDF
• Full-Color VTT Map
• 1 Flying Vehicle Stat Block
• 6 New Monster Stat Blocks
• 2 New Magic Items
• 13 VTT Tokens

Background

Balthazar Gearwright is a curious figure in the bustling city of Iron Heights. A tinkerer turned entrepreneur, he is known for his eccentric personality and wondrous inventions. Balthazar's name echoes through the city's crowded streets, whispered with a hint of amusement and begrudging respect. After all, he is the man behind Gearwright Industries, a burgeoning enterprise helping drive Iron Heights' magitech revolution.

Balthazar's warehouse—a sprawling mass of scaffolding, steam pipes, and the constant hum of aetherite energy—is filled to the brim with curiosities. Devices that emit brilliant sparks, mechanized contraptions that defy understanding, and entire racks of blueprints for ideas yet to come. There's no doubt that Balthazar is a dreamer. But his dreams, as grand as they are, don't always transpire as planned. It's a well-known fact in Iron Heights: when Balthazar's new invention is about to be unveiled, you can expect the unexpected.

One such unexpected twist recently unfurled when Balthazar announced his latest innovation: the Aethercore, a powerful magitech artifact capable of generating near-limitless energy for the poor residents of Iron Heights. It was a testament to his genius but also, as it turns out, a beacon for trouble.

The unveiling caught the attention of the Storm Jackals, a notorious gang of thieves eager to leave their mark on the city. The Storm Jackals are adept thieves and brutes driven by ambition and greed. They've plagued Iron Heights with their audacious heists, but stealing from Balthazar Gearwright was outside their typical thefts. They were hired by a dangerous cult known as the Crimson Cogs, who wish to use the Aethercore for their own sinister ends.

Balthazar, for his part, was far from defeated. In his mind, every failure was a stepping stone to success, and this was no different. He is looking for stalwart individuals willing to uncover the truth of this conspiracy after managing to snap a photo of one of the thieves.

Explorer+ Patrons click HERE to get the Adventure PDF 

Adventurer+ patrons click HERE to get the VTT Token Pack 

Dungeon Master+ Patrons click HERE to download the VTT Ready Digital Map Pack