The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

THE AETHER THRONE

THE SCARLET SHADOW

STRIKES

Written & designed by Keith D Edinburgh

Visual artwork created in Midjourney

Map of The Scarlet Shadow’s Lair created using Inkarnate

Endless fortune, glory and clear skies to my playtesters:

Dhileas, Miranda, Nona, David, Jamie, Keith K, Marco,
Lily, Carla, Lee and Bryan

For Claire, who would have absolutely slain this mission

©2024 Keith D Edinburgh

www.keithdedinburgh.com

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Mission overview 5 Sir Benjamin Whitaker 30

Campaign overview 5 The Scarlet Shadow intervenes 33

Mission background 6 Vice-Captain Mathilda Grayson 34

Major characters 6 Calling on the Inspector 35

Minor characters 7 Shoreditch police station 35

Starting the mission 8 An interruption 39

Mission briefing 9 Race to the Park 40

Shoreditch 9 Arriving at Hyde Park 41

The Brass Monkey 10 Confronting The Shadow 41

A visit from The Rooks 12 Reporting back to Monk 44

The scene of the crime 14 End of the mission 44

Researching the victims 22 Epilogue 44

Imogen Hartley 22 Sites of The Empire – The Hall of Records 47

Tobias Finch 24 Appendix A - NPCs 48

Sir Percival Thompson 25 Appendix B - Player handouts 52

Professor Harriet Chalmers 27 Appendix C - Combat Fields 58

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Mission overview otherworld, where they learn that a

malevolent power is threatening London and
The Scarlet Shadow Strikes is a mission for
The Empire, and are told of an ancient
1st level characters that forms the first part of
artefact in Egypt that can avert it.
the Shadow Of The Empire five-scenario
campaign.
In this mission, adventurers are new
recruits for The Ministry, a covert
governmental operation in London. They are
tasked with apprehending the mysterious
serial killer stalking the streets of the city,
known only as The Scarlet Shadow.
As they uncover clues to The Shadow’s
identity amidst the dark shadows of
London’s criminal underworld, they begin to
realise that a wider conspiracy is at play and
that the killer represents a much greater
threat than first feared,
The Scarlet Shadow Strikes is designed to In Enemies of the State, adventurers
be played in one or two sessions, and can be return to London to find that the press are
used as an introduction to The Aether accusing them of being behind the murders.
Throne. It features several opportunities for They must escape London before things get
combat, as well as investigations in many out of hand, but must contend with a
locations of London. number of people that want them arrested –
The core rulebook for The Aether Throne or worse.
is required to play. GM’s may also find the Having fled London in a skyship,
Visitor’s Guide to London supplement adventurers travel to far-off Egypt in search
useful in helping add colour, background of answers in Skies Above Giza. There they
and variety to the adventurers’ exploits in discover a sinister cult and must explore an
the city. ancient tomb that holds a terrible secret: that
Queen Valentina II is the reincarnated vessel
Campaign overview of a malevolent entity that wishes to bring
chaos and destruction to the world.
In Shadow of the Empire, adventurers
In Heart of the Empire, the adventurers
discover a dark and terrible secret behind
return to London, after seeking the aid of
the powers in control of The Empire.
their allies in The Aether Court and others
Whilst investigating the string of murders they have earned the trust of in the course of
in London in The Scarlet Shadow Strikes, their mission. There they discover that the
they discover that the killer does not appear Queen has set the wheels of a deadly plan in
to be human and comes instead from the motion, and they must race to find a way to
mysterious otherworldly plane inhabited by thwart her schemes. The adventurers must
The Aether Court. enlist the support of The Knights of the
In Crossing The Veil, adventurers are Dawn to find out where Queen Valentina is
aided by Monique Lestrange of The Aetheric hiding and save London and ultimately the
Academy, and make a journey to that whole of The Empire itself.

Facing page: The streets of Shoreditch

 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Mission background As the majority of the forces of justice

suspect nothing of Queen Valentina II or her
Unknown to all but a few members of her
true identity, much effort has been put into
innermost circle, Queen Valentina II is the
apprehending The Scarlet Shadow, who is
reincarnation of a murderous ancient
viewed as a dangerous menace to all citizens
Egyptian priestess named Ahmhotep.
of London.
Members of The Aether Court, those
The adventurers – as agents of The
mysterious beings that inhabit a realm
Ministry – are the latest group to be
beyond The Veil, discovered Ahmhotep’s
assigned that task.
plans to use her bodily host to usher in an
age of chaos. They cast a powerful The Scarlet Shadow Strikes sees the
enchantment on her, which has caused adventurers investigate the latest victim of
Queen Valentina II to be stricken by a the killer, discovering one of their hideouts
mystical wasting curse. in the East End of London.
Ahmhotep has not surrendered lightly From there, they are able to discover
however, and has recruited a group of previously-undetected connections between
faithful and devoted souls to her cause in an The Scarlet Shadow’s victims, leading them to
attempt to reverse the curse and strike back deduce the identity of the next target.
at her foes. As unaware as anyone of the killer’s true
The Serpent’s Teeth are that group of identity and motives, adventurers must race
people, drawn from all parts of London across London to save the intended victim,
society and each possessing skills that resulting in a conflict with The Scarlet
Ahmhotep needs to return to her former Shadow themselves.
power. It is only when this conflict is over that the
Learning of her plans, Nala and Moloch of adventurers begin to suspect that not
The Aether Court have despatched a faithful everything is as they first thought, and an
servant of the Court to the mortal realm, urgent message from Monique Lestrange of
tasked with uncovering and neutralising the The Aetheric Academy closes the mission
members of The Serpent’s Teeth. and sets up the next episode in the
campaign.
This servant, disguised as a porcelain-
masked mortal woman, has struck five
times, killing key members of The Serpent’s Major characters
Teeth, but earning themselves notoriety in
the process. Alice Monk
Now popularly known as The Scarlet Director of The Ministry
Shadow, the Aether Court’s servant grows Appearance: Very smartly
increasingly desperate in their attempts to dressed in a black suit with
destroy the remaining members and thwart sleek black hair cut in a modish
Ahmhotep’s plans. style.
Using a combination of London’s Characteristics: Efficient to
underground tunnels and aetheric portals to the point of being cold; utterly
travel beneath the city, The Scarlet Shadow loyal to The Empire
has one last target left – the ‘head’ of The
Quote: “Dismissed.”
Serpent, a vice-captain in the Palace Guard.

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Constable Oliver Bennet Professor Harold Cottingley

Constable of the Greater London Police Master of Science, Hall of Steam
Appearance: Out of uniform, Appearance: Balding with
Bennet wears modest clothing. glasses and a white beard.
He has neatly combed brown Eccentric fashion sense.
hair and a small scar on his Characteristics: Serious, but
right cheek. becomes extremely animated
Characteristics: Passionate when discussing anything to
about keeping the streets of do with the domain of steam.
Shoreditch safe. Quote: “Are you familiar with
Basingstoke’s Theory of Applied
Quote: “These people may be
Hydraulic Combustion?”
poor, but they’re as deserving of
justice as anyone.”

Captain Mathilda Grayson

Eliza Shaw Vice-Captain of the Palace Guard
Flower seller, Shoreditch Appearance: Grayson has
striking good looks and a
Appearance: Fourteen years
commanding presence.
old, dressed in patched clothes
and with a forlorn expression. Characteristics: Reluctant to
have anything to do with
Characteristics: Distrustful of
anyone who is not a fellow
authority, but keen to share
guard or a member of the
what she knows.
Royal Court.
Quote: “Begging pardon, you
Quote: “Kindly get out of my
looks like decent folks to me..”
sight.”

Inspector Harold Thorne Minor characters

Head of Shoreditch District of the Greater Jacob Foster
London Police Proprietor of The Brass Monkey in Shoreditch. Never
Appearance: Thorne wears a saw nothing nor no-one.
world-weary expression and
Bertha Finch
ill-fitting clothes.
Grieving widow of Tobias. Better off without him.
Characteristics: Gives the air
of being overworked to the Sir Anthony Bartley-Smythe
extent of impatience. Doesn’t Member of The Flying Gentlemen’s Society.
suffer fools. Insufferable ass.
Quote: “I think it would be best
for everyone if we all just forgot Penelope Pitt-Stott
you were ever here, don’t you Desk sergeant of Shoreditch Police Station. Possibly
think?” the best driver in London.

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The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Starting the mission

In The Scarlet Shadow Strikes, adventurers
are new recruits in The Ministry, a top-
secret agency within the government that
exists to uncover and thwart threats to The
Empire.
After a recent scandal involving a
treasonous ex-member, The Ministry now
recruits mercenaries, criminals, outcasts
and other outsiders to its ranks, promising
them much in the way of reward if they serve
the agency well. To date, this policy has
proven effective, with the promise of riches,
pardon and freedom ensuring the loyalty of
The Ministry’s new and somewhat
unconventional agents.
The Ministry is run by Director Alice
Monk, a dispassionate and determined
woman who is a distant cousin to Queen
Valentina II. From The Ministry’s
headquarters in a secret base beneath the
River Thames, Monk gathers the
adventurers in her office to give them their
first mission.

Alice Monk
After having risen through the ranks of the
Special Investigations Branch and proven
her unwavering loyalty to The Empire and
the Queen, Monk is utterly committed to The
Ministry and its goals of eradicating threats
to The Empire at any cost.
She has a no-nonsense attitude and does
not take kindly to impoliteness or brevity. As
the adventurers are new recruits, she does
not yet fully trust them, although she treats
them with a polite but firm fairness in her
dealings with them.
Monk is unaware of the larger schemes at
play in Shadow of the Empire, and is driven
by a single goal of wishing to put a stop to
what she believes are the senseless killings
happening across London and attributed to
The Scarlet Shadow.

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(Further details of The Ministry and its Shoreditch

headquarters are available in the Visitor’s
Shoreditch is a district in the northern part
Guide to London supplement.)
of London’s East End. Like its neighbouring
districts of Whitechapel and Spittalfields, it
Mission briefing is largely populated by the lower classes and
Monk stands behind her polished wooden suffers from poverty, disease and crime.
desk in her office in the headquarters of The It is within the territory of The Rooks, the
Ministry. A thin light filters from overhead, notorious criminal gang who are based in
shifting with the currents of the Thames the East End, and many of Shoreditch’s
flowing above. Read or paraphrase the music halls and alerooms are fronts for
following: illegal activities ranging from gambling,
bare-knuckle fighting, prostitution and
“Your training is at an end and it is time worse.
for you prove your worth on the field.”
says Monk, folding her arms and fixing The most recent victim of The Scarlet
each of you with her gaze in turn. Shadow was found in an alley close to The
Brass Monkey and Constable Oliver Bennet
“It certainly would appear you have some was one of the officers on the scene who
unique talents amongst you.” She smiles discovered the body. Adventurers are
mirthlessly. “And The Ministry now has handed a file photograph of Constable
use for them.” Bennet to assist with identifying him.
Adventurers visiting Shoreditch would be
“No doubt you are aware of the recent
advised to dress appropriately and to keep
spate of killings that have taken place on
valuables tightly secured at all times.
London’s streets, attributed to a
perpetrator that The Illustrated London
News have christened The Scarlet
Shadow?”
Monk doesn’t wait for an answer and
continues. “A constable from the Greater
London Police has contacted us, claiming
he has information pertinent to the case.
For some reason, he is reluctant to share
this intelligence with his superior
officers.”
“I would like you to meet with this
constable – one Oliver Bennet – in The
Brass Monkey aleroom in Shoreditch this
evening. I have told him to expect you at
eight o’clock.”
Monk sits down and begins to glance
through the papers on her desk.
“Dismissed.”

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The Brass Monkey The barman is a stout fellow in his fifties

with a trimmed brown beard peppered with
A medium-sized aleroom located on a
grey and a bald head polished to a shine. He
corner of two streets in the centre of
is smartly dressed in a black waistcoat with
Shoreditch, The Brass Monkey is open from
shiny brass buttons, a white shirt and a red
eight o’clock in the morning until midnight.
bow tie.
From the outside, its thick glass windows
If the adventurers are here at or close to
give a distorted view of the interior, and
eight o’clock in the evening, Constable Oliver
hanging baskets of wilting flowers flank the
Bennet is here, sitting alone in the opposite
front door.
corner to the pub singer. He is out of
Inside, the space is dominated on one side uniform, but spots the adventurers and
by a long wooden bar with an array of bottles catches their eye, indicating that they should
and kegs of ale behind it. A small stage area join him.
rises in one corner, with the rest of the space
taken up with tables and chairs for patrons. Speaking to Oliver Bennet
A door leads to the back area of the pub, Bennet looks young, but the signs of
which consists of a lavatory, a private back experience have begun to crease his
room and carpeted stairs which lead to the features. His brown hair is neatly combed
three guestrooms and the living quarters of and he has a small scar on his right cheek.
the bar manager on the first floor.
He thanks the adventurers for coming,
Assuming the adventurers visit in the then draws his seat in and leans forward,
evening, they find the place moderately busy lowering his voice. The none-too-dulcet
with locals, most of whom are steadfastly tones of the pub singer provide a convenient
ignoring the disharmonious tones of an cover for Bennet’s hushed words.
elderly and dishevelled pub entertainer
He explains that he was one of the
playing the guitar and torturing a popular
constables on duty three nights ago when he
song of the day.
discovered the latest victim, a short walk
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

from the pub. Bennet glances round to make Questioning Bennet further
sure his words are not at risk of being Adventurers likely have further questions for
overheard then goes on to tell the Bennet. Some possible lines of inquiry, and
adventurers something that has plagued his Bennet’s answers are presented below.
conscience ever since.
Bennet, alerted by sounds of a scuffle, had Do you know the meaning of his final word?
arrived on the scene to discover a man in his Bennet looked up the word in the local
death throes. The victim had been attacked library and discovered it is the Latin word for
in an identical manner to all the other ‘body’.
casualties of The Scarlet Shadow: a single
deep cut to the throat made by an extremely Did the victim have any distinguishing
sharp blade. features?
Bennet had unsuccessfully tried to save The victim was a man in his mid-forties, well
the victim and blew on his whistle to alert built and with oiled black hair. He was
any of his fellow officers within earshot. wearing a fine suit and expensive-looking
shoes and a cane was lying beside him.
As he knelt beside the dying man, Bennet
Bennet did not recognise him, but he is
describes how the victim looked him straight
certain they were not a Shoreditch local.
in the eye and muttered a single word:
‘corpus.’ The constable also spotted that the
man had a small golden brooch in the shape Do you know if the brooch signifies
anything?
of a bee pinned to his lapel.
It’s worn by members of The Brotherhood of
When backup arrived, Bennet was initially Industry, a ‘friendly society’ of wealthy
relieved to see Inspector Harold Thorne of businessmen and capitalists. They do not
the Greater London Police amongst their have a club – or ‘hive’, as their meeting
number. Bennet told Thorne what he had places are sometimes referred to – in the
discovered, only to be dismissed and told to East End to Bennet’s knowledge.
leave the scene of the crime immediately.
Bennet was surprised, but followed What can you tell us about Inspector
Thorne’s orders. He was even more Thorne?
surprised when the murder was not He’s a bit of an ogre, but he’s always done
reported upon by The Illustrated London things by the book and followed the letter of
News the next day, or on any of the days the law. He’s been Bennet’s superior officer
following. As the paper had been quick to for two years now, and he’s never acted like
report on other murders carried out by the this before.
Shadow, this seemed unusual to Bennet.
He raised the matter again with Thorne Do you know anything about the other
but was told in no uncertain terms never to murders?
mention the Shoreditch murder to him Only what’s been communicated around the
again. Greater London Police force. There have
Bennet, born and raised in Shoreditch and been five killings so far, in various districts
concerned for the welfare of its citizens, of the city.
decided to turn to The Ministry for help, as Other than the manner of killing, there
he had heard of the organisation through his doesn’t seem to be anything connecting the
previous mentor on the force. victims: they are from different social

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classes, both male and female and have A visit from The Rooks
ranged from twenty-one to sixty-six years
old. The names of the victims have not been After the adventurers have discussed visiting
made public, and are only known to Bennet’s the scene of the crime with Bennet, two
superior officers. threatening-looking characters enter The
Brass Monkey.
Can we see the location where the murder They are wearing the distinctive black
took place? coats and hats of Blackwings, gang
Bennet agrees to take the adventurers to the members of The Rooks. They stare around
alleyway where he discovered the dying man, the room, appearing to take particular
though he warns them that Thorne and interest in the adventurers. Bennet tenses,
others will have stripped it of all evidence. although as he is out of uniform the
That said, he admits it is possible that the Blackwings don’t pay him any particular
particular talents of the adventurers might attention.
be able to find something that his colleagues The Blackwings nod to the barman, then
did not. exit the room via the door to the back area of
If adventurers don’t ask this question, he the aleroom.
will suggest that they might want to to take a If adventurers choose to depart The Brass
look at the location. Monkey at this point, Bennet leads them to
In either instance, he sketches out the alley described in The scene of the crime
directions to the alleyway on a piece of paper following.
from his notebook and hands it to the If the adventurers wait, after a few
adventurers. moments they hear shouting coming from
The location is a short walk from The Brass the back room, followed by a single pistol
Monkey, in an area of Shoreditch that is shot. At this, Bennet gets to his feet and
dominated by warehouses and lockups. rushes through the door leading to the rear
of the aleroom. Unless they follow him,

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seconds later the adventurers hear another may choose to ignore his advice.
gunshot as one of the Blackwings shoots If a chase does take place, the chase
Bennet, taking him to his wounded threshold. distance is set to 6 and the chase distance
If adventurers follow Bennet, they meet goal is 9, representing the Blackwings’
the Blackwings coming out of the backroom knowledge of the local area. Even if caught,
with pistols drawn. They aim their firearms the Blackwing has very little to say, other
at the adventurers and give them one chance than explaining the reason for their ‘visit’ to
to stand aside and let them leave. The Brass Monkey and his insistence that it
If Bennet has not been shot, he will refuse was his comrade who pulled the trigger.
to let the Blackwings leave the premises, If one or more of the Blackwings escape or
declaring himself a member of the Greater are let go, the adventurers’ reputation with
London Police force and drawing his pistol. The Rooks decreases by one degree.
It is highly likely that combat mode is
initiated at some point during this episode, Aftermath of the encounter
with adventurers facing the Blackwings in If he was shot, Bennet has suffered harm that
the back area of the aleroom. If this occurs, takes him to his wounded threshold, although
the encounter takes place on a combat field he is able to continue with any plan to
with two range bands, with the adventurers accompany the adventurers to the scene of
and the Blackwings starting in opposite the murder.
range bands. If adventurers check the back room, they
If Bennet has been shot, he does not find a man slumped dead over a card table,
participate in the combat. with three other men cowering in the
corner.
Statistics for Bennet and the Blackwings
can be found in Appendix A - NPCs. A
combat field chart for the encounter can be
found in Appendix C - Combat fields.

Combat tactics
The Blackwings are cocky, as they are on
their home turf and know that the barman
and patrons will not interfere.
They will start by attempting to shoot the
adventurer that they perceive as being the
biggest threat, then will switch weapons to
their knives and attempt to engage with the
adventurers, using their gang up ability to
give them an advantage. Once they realise the adventurers are not
If one of the Blackwings is defeated, the going to cause them further harm, the
other will attempt to disengage from any survivors explain that the dead man was in
opponents, move to an unoccupied range debt to The Rooks and had been given ‘ample
band and flee. Bennet will discourage a chase time’ to pay back what he owed.
on the grounds that the Blackwings know If he is still alive, Bennet takes notes and
every inch of these streets, but adventurers asks further questions, and will file a report

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

on the crime later, although he confesses are of a slightly lighter colour than the rest of
that any chances of bringing The Rooks to the stones in the alleyway and are clear of
justice over such a ‘minor’ incident are low. any debris.
If the Blackwings were defeated or killed, If present, Bennet confirms this is
they each have a knife and pistol on their unusual, as the Greater London Police are
possession, and a total of 7 crowns in their usually not quite so diligent in cleaning up
pockets. after discoveries such as this.
The barman – Jacob Foster – regrets any As the adventurers are investigating the
inconvenience caused by the Blackwings’ alley, they become aware of a figure behind
visit. He does not want to cause himself or them watching from the shadows. As they
his establishment any further trouble from notice her, Eliza Shaw – a young flower
The Rooks and is steadfast in his insistence seller from Shoreditch – nervously steps
that he saw, heard and knows nothing. forward.
The pub singer – Reginald ‘Rusty Pipes’ She appears wary of the adventurers, and
McFadden – is still playing, although he has asks them if they are from the police force or
changed his song to a more sombre (though the Special Investigations Branch. Assuming
equally discordant) tune. If questioned, it that the adventurers do not reply that they
becomes apparent that McFadden is – as are, Eliza takes a further step forward and
Bennet puts it – ‘nine shillings short of a speaks to the adventurer with the highest
crown’ and is able to provide no further Charisma attribute.
information. Eliza describes how she was passing the
alley on the night of the murder and saw two
The scene of the crime figures having what looked like an argument.
She describes one as a finely-dressed
If Bennet is still able to accompany the
gentleman with ‘shiny black hair’ and a cane,
adventurers, he leads them a few streets
and the other as ‘one of them automaton
away from The Brass Monkey, then into a
things’ wearing a black cloak and boots.
narrow opening that reveals a dingy alley
between two warehouse buildings. Eliza snuck into the shadows and watched
with horror as the automaton slit the throat
The buildings loom on three sides of the
of the man with ‘a right wicked blade and no
alleyway; the windows overlooking it are
mistake’ then the machine walked into the
barred and shuttered and the doors are all
back corner of the alleyway and ‘seemed to
heavy and locked. The only way in and out of
disappear like it dropped down a hole.’
the alley would appear to be the arched
opening to the street. Eliza was then startled by the appearance
of Bennet (who she does not recognise out of
Bennet is able to point to the exact
his uniform) and ran off. She is already in
location in the alley where he found the
trouble with the police for trying to sell her
dying man, although there are no signs of
wares outside her licensed patch, so was too
anything untoward having taken place there.
scared to say anything to Bennet or any of
Call for a Detect skill roll against a target the others who arrived on the scene.
number of 12. Any adventurers who achieve
Eliza is scared of the automaton ‘coming
a regular success or higher on the roll can tell
back to get me’ and thinks the adventurers
that the cobblestones where the body was
look like ‘the sort of folks who’d know what to
positioned have been scrubbed clean, as they
do’.

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 She is able to show the adventurers the
ammunition, tinctures, gadgets or other
spot where the automaton appeared to
suitable items. Failing that, she will
vanish. Once she has done this, she begs the
relieve one of the offending adventurers
adventurers’ pardon and takes her leave and
of their crowns.
scurries out the alley and into the streets of
Shoreditch. The unfortunate adventurer only notices
this after Eliza has left, by which time she
GM’s note has vanished into the labyrinth of
Although Eliza plays only a small part in Shoreditch’s narrow streets and alleys.
this mission, she reappears in subsequent
episodes of the campaign with a larger The hidden drop
role to play. The point Eliza indicates in the alley is
GMs who plan to play the rest of the occupied by a large barrel. If adventurers
campaign may wish to spend a little time attempt to open or otherwise move it, they
roleplaying her character and quickly realise it is made of hollow metal
interactions with the adventurers, so that painted to resemble a wooden barrel, and
players recognise her again when next that it appears to be bolted to the flagstone it
they meet. is sitting on.
Eliza is also a member of The Magpies, Any adventurers who investigate the
London’s notorious gang of child barrel further should make a Detect skill roll
pickpockets. If any of the adventurers against a target number of 12. Any who
have treated her poorly, one of them spots achieve a regular success of higher notice a
that a small-sized item they used to own small button painted to resemble one of the
is now no longer in their possession. Eliza nails of the barrel. Pressing this causes the
will not pilfer a weapon, but she may grab barrel to quickly rotate and slide to one side,
revealing the hole beneath. Pushing the

15
same button again causes it to return to its they are able to descend safely. Without this
original position after a pause of one second. or similar means to get down, each
The barrel can also be moved by any adventurer must achieve a regular success on
adventurer who achieves a regular success or an Agility skill roll against a target number
higher on a natural Fortitude roll against a of 13 (Bennet must make a natural Dexterity
target number of 12, though doing so roll instead.) Any adventurers who fail the
destroys the barrel. roll still manage to descend, but suffer 1
point of harm in the process (which is unable
Into the Shadow’s lair to be absorbed by armour.) If an adventurer
rolls a critical failure, they land awkwardly
The hole is round and is large enough for a
and suffer 2 points of harm instead.
medium-sized being to fit into.
Although the light from the alleyway GM’s note
filters into the first few feet of the opening,
The Aether Court Agent uses the hole to
the rest is in darkness. Shining a torch into
enter and exit their hideout. They are able
the hole shows a cobbled stone floor about 2o
to use their levitate ability to ascend and
feet below, and an object dropped into it
descend the shaft without risk of harm.
makes a sound from hitting the floor after
around a second. Eliza spotted the masked agent (who she
mistook for an automaton) activate the
The shaft leading to the floor below is
barrel and levitate down into the hole,
relatively smooth without obvious
appearing to ‘disappear.’
handholds. If the adventurers possess rope,

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Inside the lair Strange apparatus

The ‘lair’ is an abandoned series of cellars The first door the adventurers encounter
and storage rooms belonging to a long- opens to reveal an unlit rectangular
demolished warehouse that used to occupy chamber. A large machine dominates the
the alley. space, with nothing else of note present in
The passageways are narrow and dark, the room.
and adventurers will need a source of light to The machine is six feet tall, twelve feet
be able to navigate the corridors. They must wide and three feet deep. It is bolted to the
walk along corridors in single file, so the stone floor and is roughly cylindrical in
players should agree amongst themselves shape. A round glass window on the front of
what exploration order they take. the machine affords a view of the interior,
The walls and ceiling are built from which is filled with coils and diodes. Pipes
dressed stone and the floor is cobbled. The and coils extend from the machine at
ceiling is ten feet above the floor in all areas irregular intervals, some of which end in
of the lair. hollowed openings, others of which circle
back into the machine.
Doors are metal and thick, but are
unlocked and can be easily opened unless The apparatus is unlike anything any of
otherwise noted. the adventurers have encountered before.
An adventurer who succeeds on a regular
Bennet will accompany the adventurers
success or higher on a Science skill roll
into the lair unless told not to. The GM
against a target number of 14 can tell that the
should control Bennet as an NPC, deciding
machine appears to harness the power of an
his actions as necessary.
advanced form of magnetism, but also has an
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

energy signature that they cannot Statistics for the guardian automaton are
comprehend. presented in Appendix A - NPCs.
An adventurer achieving a regular success The encounter takes place on a combat
or higher on an Aether skill roll against a field consisting of two range bands. The
target number of 14 can tell that the lefthand range band represents the chamber
apparatus is infused with a mild form of and has no environment tags.
aetheric energy, but cannot deduce what The righthand range band represents the
kind. passageway outside the room and has a new
An adventurer achieving a regular success environment tag of restricted.
on a Knowledge skill roll against a target A range band with the restricted
number of 14 can tell that the device appears environment tag can only accommodate a
to be deactivated. If they achieve a special maximum of two beings at any one time. If
success or higher on the roll, they can tell that there are two beings occupying a range band
it appears to have been used as recently as 24 with a restricted tag, no other being can take
hours ago, but cannot discern to what end. the move action to enter that range band.
No adventurer is able to deduce how to A being is considered to be occupying a
activate the machine, or is able to operate it restricted range band even if it is prone,
in any capacity. unconscious, lost or dead.
Additionally, a range band with the
GM’s note restricted environment tag has only one
The machine is an aether capacitor, an engagement zone.
invention of The Aether Court. It is
For this encounter, the guardian
activated by means of an invocation
automaton and any beings who have entered
known only to members of the Court, and
the room begin in the lefthand range band.
is used to provide power to the portal
located elsewhere in the lair. Any beings who have not yet entered the
room begin in the righthand range band.
If more than two beings have not yet
Guard chamber entered the room, only the two beings at the
The second door encountered by the front of the exploration order are able to
adventurers opens to reveal another occupy the righthand range band.
rectangular stone chamber. Any other beings are unable to join the
Another metal door faces them on the encounter until there are less than two
opposite side of the room, and a medium- beings in the restricted range band and one or
sized suit of brass armour, its helmet more beings are able to move into it.
moulded into the face of a lion, stands Joining the restricted range band once
against the northern wall. The chamber is there is room to do so does not consume an
otherwise empty. action point. If the being entering a restricted
The other door is firmly locked and range band has not yet determined their turn
secured by an aetheric ward. Any attempt to order, they should do so now.
open it by any being other than the Agent of A combat chart for this encounter can be
The Aether Court causes the ‘suit of armour’ found in Appendix C - Combat fields.
– a guardian automaton – to animate and
attack all intruders.

18
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Combat tactics
The guardian automaton will attempt to
engage with the being with the highest
Fortitude in its range band, focusing its claw
and crush strike actions on them.
If two of the automaton’s opponents are in
the righthand restricted range band, it will
use its metallic roar ability to attempt to
unnerve them, then will use its spiked rivets
fire action on the opponents in that range
band.
The automaton can only move into the
restricted range band if there are one or fewer
beings in that range band.

GM’s note
The guardian automaton has been
summoned here by the Agent of The
Aether Court. It lets them pass through
the door unchallenged, but attacks any
other being who attempts to do so.

Exiting the guard chamber

Once the guardian automaton has been
defeated, the previously sealed door to the
chamber clicks open.
It cannot be opened through any other
means.

The study
After making a right-angled turn, the
passageway from the guard chamber ends at
another door.
This is unlocked, and opens to reveal a
rectangular room that appears to have been
used as a study of some nature.
A desk and single chair are positioned
against one wall, and two bookcases are
lined up against another.
A scroll sits on the desk. It contains a list
of names beneath headings that appear to be
written in some archaic form of Latin. Any
adventurer who achieves a regular success or

19
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

higher on a Knowledge skill roll against a The portal chamber

target number of 12 is able to translate the A door from the study opens into a short
headings as ‘right leg’, ‘left leg’, ‘right arm’, ‘left narrow corridor that ends at another door.
arm’, ‘body’ and ‘head.’ An adventurer who achieves a regular
The names Imogen Hartley, Tobias Finch, success on a Detect skill roll against a target
Percival Thompson, Harriet Chalmers and number of 12 whilst listening at the door can
Benjamin Whitaker are written under the hear a faint crackling sound. If the
first five of these headings. There is no name adventurer achieves a special success or
written beneath the sixth heading. higher, they recognise the sound as a form of
The fifth heading – ‘Corpus’ – is the same aetheric energy slowly dissipating.
word that Bennet told the adventurers was Opening the door reveals a round stone
uttered by the dying victim he discovered. chamber bathed in a pale yellow glow. The
An anatomical diagram of a human body is room is empty, save for the source of the
drawn next to the list of names, with lines glow: a large circular symbol of some kind
scored through the limbs and torso. carved into the flagstones of the floor.
Another Latin phrase – ‘Gloria Reginae’ – None of the adventurers are able to
is written at the bottom of the scroll. If any recognise the symbol, although anyone
adventurer succeeded at the previous trained in Aether can tell that it denotes
Knowledge skill roll, they are also able to some esoteric aether incantation.
translate this as ‘Glory to the Queen.’ If any being approaches the symbol, they
The bookshelves contain books on the feel a charge of aetheric energy. If any being
history, people and landmarks of London. enters into the circle, there is a brief flash as
They range from detailed biographies and the energy discharges, after which the glow
academic texts, to collections of nursery has gone. In addition, any being who entered
rhymes and picture books for children. into the circle is immediately drained of all
Every single book relates to London in some Aether points.
shape or form, and they are all modern or There are no clues as to its purpose and
recent editions. Bennet has never encountered it before. If
adventurers return to the strange apparatus
GM’s note encountered earlier in the lair, they discover
The scroll represents the findings of the that it appears to have also been drained of
Agent of The Aether Court as they have all energy, suggesting that the machine and
discovered and killed the various the symbol are somehow linked.
members of The Serpent’s Teeth.
GM’s note
They have not yet discovered the name
The symbol is a portal of transportation
of the sixth and last member, although
that the Agent of The Aether Court uses to
they are close to uncovering their identity.
travel between their various hideouts
The books have been collected by the across London.
Agent since their arrival in this world in
They are the only being able to operate
an attempt for them to learn as much
the portal, and if the adventurers entered
about London as possible.
into the symbol, they caused a ward
The exultation is to Nala, the Queen of placed on it to discharge, deactivating it
Hearts – most definitely not Valentina II. and the machine that is used to power it.

20
 The Agent recently used the portal to Next steps
travel to an underground hideout close to Once they leave the lair, adventurers should
Pall Mall, resulting in the residual energy be in possession of the scroll containing the
trace still emanating from the symbol. names of the five ‘victims’ of The Scarlet
Shadow.
Constable Bennet, if he is with the
Leaving the lair adventurers, makes his apologies and parts
Adventurers are left with little choice but to company with them now, explaining that he
leave the lair via the way they entered. must continue with his normal duties for the
Unless they used rope or some other Greater London Police force.
means to descend the shaft that leads to the He suggests researching the names on the
alleyway, each adventurer must achieve a scroll in the Hall of Records (see section
regular success or higher on a Agility skill roll Researching the victims following), and –
against a target number of 12 to successfully although he is reluctant to admit it –
climb up (Bennet must make a natural suggests that Inspector Thorne may be
Dexterity roll instead.) interested in what they have discovered in
There is no penalty for failing the roll and the chambers beneath the alley.
adventurers can attempt the skill roll as Bennet gives the location of the
often as they wish, but if an adventurer rolls Shoreditch police station, before warning
a critical failure, they slip from near the top the adventurers that Inspector Thorne is a
of the shaft and take 1 point of inflicted harm busy and notoriously impatient man who
from landing awkwardly and must attempt will not take kindly to any form of time-
the roll again. wasting.

21
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Researching the victims Imogen Hartley

Adventurers may want to research the File photograph
victims of The Scarlet Shadow, as well as
attempt to find the name of the sixth victim.
If they do not think of doing this, Bennet –
assuming he still lives – suggests doing so
before he returns to his duties.
As they are members of The Ministry,
adventurers have access to London’s Hall of
Records in Whitehall (see page 47 for more
details on this facility in this and other
missions set in London.)
Information on each of the five victims is
presented below. General information held
in the Hall of Records is presented first,
followed by notes filed by the Greater
London Police.
Each entry gives leads to further avenues
of investigation, which are detailed after that
victim’s entry in the Hall of Records.

GM’s note
Following all avenues of research is not
essential to progress in the mission.
Doing so does however reveal that the File entry
victims are in some way connected, and Date of birth: 14th April, 1874 (21 years old)
gives clues that allow adventurers to
Date of death: 12th February, 1896
determine the identity of the head of The
Serpent’s Teeth. Residence: 14 Bonnington Square, Vauxhall
(rented room)
The meaning and purpose of these
connections are more fully expanded Workplace: The Fatted Calf restaurant,
upon in further episodes of the Shadow of Piccadilly, waitress
the Empire campaign. Marital status: Unmarried
GMs are thus at liberty to encourage Criminal record: None
adventurers to follow these leads as they Police report: The first victim of the killer
see fit, based on their players’ that would become known as The Scarlet
preferences, style of play and whether Shadow. Hartley’s body was found in Swallow
they are likely to continue the campaign. Lane close to her place of work. According to
If they do not wish to pursue these police doctors, Hartley had been dead for at
leads, the next most logical step of the least twelve hours prior to being discovered.
mission would be to speak to Inspector Cause of death: Severe laceration to throat
Thorne of the Shoreditch Branch of the with a single cut from a sharp blade.
Greater London Police.

22
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

14 Bonnington Square about Imogen Hartley, they are directed to

Bonnington Square lies south of the river, one of the serving staff, a young woman
not far from the St Jude’s Hospital. The area named Bella Martin (lower-class). As long as
is lower middle class, and Bonnington the adventurers are polite, she recalls
Square has rows of townhouses that are Hartley with a sad smile, describing her as a
commonly split into separate rooms for rent. friendly sort who always seemed to know
Hartley lived in one such room, and her what to say to put customers at ease, almost
landlord (middle-class), has not yet found a as if she could read their minds.
new occupant for it.
Swallow Lane
The landlord can be persuaded to let
adventurers look inside Hartley’s room if A little wider and less industrialised than the
one or more of them achieve a regular success alleyway in Shoreditch, Swallow Lane is also
or higher on a Charm, Coerce or Convince a dead end accessible only from the street.
skill roll against a target number of 13. Although any signs of the tragic event that
Alternatively, he is happy to let them look took place here on the night of February 12th
inside the room for 2 crowns. have long since disappeared, adventurers
As she died over two months ago, who succeed on a special success or higher on
Hartley’s room has been emptied of her a Detect skill roll against a target number of
possessions by the police and relatives. All 12 find a flagstone concealing a similar shaft
that remains is a single bed, dressing table, to that found in the alleyway in Shoreditch.
wardrobe and chest of drawers, all of which Descending that shaft reveals a short
are bare and empty. corridor leading to a single chamber
Any adventurer who achieves a special An identical device to that found in the lair
success or higher on a Detect skill roll against in Shoreditch is located in one corner, and a
a target number of 12 spots the corner of a symbol similar to that found there is carved
sheet of paper that has slipped between two on the floor of the room, although it has no
floorboards. signs of any residual aetheric energy.
Pulling this out reveals a letter from Major
Percival Thompson addressed to Hartley GM’s note
(see Appendix B). The letter thanks her for Hartley was a natural mystic devoted to
her patience and discretion thus far and the Suit of Hearts, which increased her
assures her that her ‘particular skills’ will be levels of empathy and understanding with
called for in a matter of days. The letter is others.
dated the 28th January 1896, two weeks before Her latent power drew the attentions of
Hartley’s death. Major Percival Thompson after he dined
at The Fatted Calf one evening, and he
The Fatted Calf recruited Hartley to The Serpent’s Teeth
The Fatted Calf is a restaurant in the east end with the promise of unimaginable
of Piccadilly serving steaks, roasts and other aetheric power.
cuts of beef. It is not too fancy, and is popular The room beneath Swallow Lane
as much for its central location and reliable contains another of The Scarlet Shadow’s
fare rather than its culinary prowess. portals, although it has not been used
If adventurers visit the restaurant and ask since the night of Hartley’s murder.

23
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Tobias Finch Cause of death: Severe laceration to throat

File photograph with a single cut from a sharp blade.

Paddington Station
Located north-west of the city centre,
Paddington Station provides access to the
west of Great Britain by rail.
The station is a large structure of iron
girders and glass panels. During the day, it is
bustling with people and shrouded in steam
from the dozens of locomotives that arrive
and depart from its many platforms.
It is quieter after dark, although trains still
run throughout the night.
Adventurers may visit hoping to examine
the location where Finch’s body was found.
To gain access to the engine yard, they must
however first persuade Bert Sibbald (lower-
class), the foreman, to be allowed inside. If an
adventurer achieves a regular success or
higher on a Charm or Convince skill roll
against a target number of 12, Sibbald grants
them access to the yard, pointing them in the
direction of the shed where Finch was
discovered. He tells them that the building
was often used by Finch to work on pieces of
File entry broken machinery.
Date of birth: 11th July, 1852 (43 years old)
The shed is small, unlocked and empty.
Date of death: 26th February, 1896 There are no signs of the events that took
Residence: 22 Back Lane, Brentford (private place here on 26th February, and the ground
residence) is thick with dust and debris.
Workplace: Paddington Station, Engineer
Marital status: Married; Bertha Finch
Criminal record: Fined 50 crowns for
brawling, foul language and disturbance of
the peace, 1885.
Police report: The second of The Scarlet
Shadow’s victims, Finch’s body was found in
a disused shed in the engine yard of
Paddington Station. His body was discovered
by a co-worker on the morning after Finch
was killed. No evidence or signs of
disturbance were found on the scene.

24
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Any adventurer who searches the shed

and who achieves a regular success or higher GM’s note
on a Detect skill roll against a target number Due to his strength, criminal record and
of 13 finds a small piece of graffiti carved into lack of moral fibre, Finch was recruited
a brick close to the ground on one of the personally by Mathilda Grayson.
walls. It appears to have been gouged and Finch was immediately besotted with
scratched into the brick with a sharp metal the vice-captain and began to conjure up
implement. an elaborate fantasy world in his head
The graffiti depicts a crudely-drawn where Grayson and he were lovers,
crown with the initials M.G. beneath. growing unreasonably resentful of his
neglected wife.
22 Back Lane, Brentford The graffiti is a lovesick tribute to
Brentford is a lower-middle class suburban Grayson and her position in the Palace
area to the west of the city, which the Guard, etched into the engine shed wall
adventurers must travel to by bus or cab. during one of Finch’s fevered daydreams.
22 Back Lane is one of a row of similar The Agent of The Aether Court tracked
brick two-storey houses in a narrow cobbled him to the shed and killed him there
street. The curtains of the house are drawn. before slipping away unnoticed.
Bertha Finch (lower-class), Tobias’ widow,
is at home, and answers the door if the Sir Percival Thompson
adventurers knock. She is a small woman
with brown hair kept in a straggly bun and File photograph
deep worry lines on her forehead.
She is reluctant to speak to the
adventurers, but if any achieve a regular
success or higher on a Charm or Convince
skill roll against a target number of 13, she is
prepared to answer their questions from the
doorstep (although she invites them inside if
any achieved a special success or higher on
the skill roll.)
Any adventurer achieving a regular success
on an Etiquette skill roll against a target
number of 12 can tell that Bertha does not
appear overly upset about her husband’s
death, and in the course of answering
questions about him, she reveals that he had
grown distant from her in the months
leading to his demise, and that he was
spending longer and longer at work, even
late into the evening.
Although she doesn’t explicitly say as
much, adventurers get the impression
Tobias had been mistreating his wife.

25
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

File entry The Royal Servicemen’s Club

Date of birth: 8th January, 1830 (66 years old) Situated a short distance from Berkeley
Date of death: 9th March, 1896 Square, The Royal Servicemen’s Club is a
grand four-storey townhouse consisting of
Residence: The Royal Empire Serviceman’s
rooms and accommodation for current and
Club, 23 Curzon Street, Mayfair
retired members of The Empire’s military.
Workplace: Captain of the Imperial Army
The Club has a strict door policy, and
(retired)
adventurers without a specific talent or
Marital status: Single ability to gain access unchallenged must
Criminal record: None achieve a regular success or higher on a
Police report: The third victim of The Scarlet Charm or Convince skill roll against a target
Shadow, Thompson’s body was discovered by number of 14 to persuade the upper-class
passers by in Berkeley Square in the early doorman that they have business inside. The
hours of the morning of the 9th of March. doorman is not open to threats or bribes of
any nature.
Cause of death: Severe laceration to throat
with a single cut from a sharp blade. If they gain access, they are able to speak
with Reginald Wentworth (upper-class), the
concierge. He is polite with adventurers,
Berkeley Square
although his responses to their questions are
A pleasant manicured rectangular green short and to-the-point.
space surrounded by refined townhouses,
Berkeley Square is calm and quiet, with only He expresses deep sadness at the death of
a handful of people enjoying its green oasis Sir Percival, and describes him as a ‘man of
during the day, and even fewer at night. few words’ who treated the staff at the Club
impeccably. Wentworth explains that Sir
The square consists of trees, well-tended Percival was in poor health and spent almost
grass and a clockwork fountain which plays all his time inside the Club, other than his
a pleasantly lilting melody every hour. regular ‘evening constitutional’ in Berkeley
Any adventurer achieving a regular success Square and increasingly infrequent visits to
or higher on a Detect skill roll against a the local meetings of the Brotherhood of
target number of 13 spots a metallic covering Industry.
to a maintenance shaft close to the fountain, Sir Percival’s rooms are now occupied by
partly concealed by shrubbery. another member, although Wentworth does
Opening this requires a regular success or have a box containing a few of Sir Percival’s
higher on a Force skill roll against a target unclaimed possessions, which await
number of 12. A metal ladder descends into a finalisation of the late gentleman’s estate
tunnel which leads to two larger chambers. and affairs.
The first contains the clockwork mechanism Wentworth will show adventures the box
that operates the fountain, whilst the second and its contents if any of them achieve a
contains the more recently installed regular success or higher on a Charm or
apparatus and portal symbol similar to those Convince skill roll against a target number
found beneath Shoreditch and Swallow of 14.
Lane.
Inside are number of medals awarded to
Both the apparatus and the portal are Sir Percival during The Last War, a silver
deactivated. snuff box inlaid with ivory, and a signet ring.

26
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

The ring is notable in that it is marked Professor Harriet Chalmers

with a crest of a crown above two crossed File photograph
swords.
Any adventurer who achieves a regular
success or higher on a Knowledge skill roll
against a target number of 13 (or who later
researches the crest in a library or similar
establishment), realises that it denotes
membership of an elite corps of the Palace
Guard which is now defunct, and which was
formed to provide bodyguard duties to the
reigning monarch.
Researching Sir Percival’s background
further in the Hall of Records or in a library
reveals no mention of his membership or
affiliation with this group.

File entry
Date of birth: 24th August, 1862 (35 years old)
Date of death: 16th March, 1896
GM’s note Residence: 14/1 Octavia Street, Battersea
(rented rooms)
The ring was given to Sir Percival by
Mathilda Grayson, signifying his rank in Workplace: The Hall of Steam, Kensington
The Serpent’s Teeth. Although the elite Marital status: Unmarried
corps of the Palace Guard has been Criminal record: None, although one of her
defunct for over thirty years, Grayson has published papers – The Science of Aether –
access to their archives, and has was widely criticised by the authorities.
repurposed some of their trappings to
denote membership of The Serpent’s Police report: The fourth victim of The
Teeth instead. Scarlet Shadow, Chalmers’ body was found
on a walkway beneath Battersea Bridge on
Sir Percival was murdered by The the south bank of The Thames on the night of
Aether Court Agent during one of his 16th March.
‘constitutionals’ in Berkeley Square. The
agent used the portal beneath the Cause of death: Severe laceration to throat
fountain to depart the scene. with a single cut from a sharp blade.

27
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Under Battersea Bridge

Any evidence of the murder has long since
been removed by the Greater London Police
and there is nothing further to be discovered
here.

14/1 Octavia Lane

Professor Chalmers’ rooms have already
been let to another tenant and none of her
belongings remain in the lodgings.
The landlady, Harriet Allison, remembers
Chalmers as a ‘pleasant enough sort, a typical
one of them scientist types’ and that she
walked to and from work across Battersea
Bridge every day.

The Hall of Steam

Situated in Kensington alongside the three
companion edifices devoted to the other Speaking with Professor Cottingley
scientific disciplines, the Hall of Steam is a Cottingley is polite and charming, with an
grand and imposing building of stone, eccentric fashion sense. Wearing a white
wrought iron and glass. Immense in size and shirt, black bow tie and black braces, he also
consisting of dozens of laboratories, sports wide pleated trousers that flap
exhibition spaces and lecture theatres, it is around his legs as he walks. He interjects and
presided over by one of the renowned interrupts often, always to talk about some
Masters of Science, Professor Harold theory or advancement in the discipline of
Cottingley. steam, but does eventually address
If any adventurers are trained in Science questions the adventurers might have.
and are educated in the discipline of Steam, He speaks fondly of Professor Chalmers,
they not only immediately gain access to the his eyes moistening as he laments the
Hall of Steam, but are greeted personally by manner of her passing. She was a former
Professor Cottingley himself. student of Cottingley’s, who demonstrated
If none of the adventurers are suitably such aptitude for the discipline that he
educated, they are permitted into the public offered her a permanent position in the Hall,
exhibition space of the Hall, but must endorsing her attempts to marry the powers
specifically ask to speak to the Professor or of steam with the mysteries of Aether.
someone else in a position of authority to ask Although the Professor does not believe
questions about Professor Chalmers. Any the two domains to be compatible, he
adventurer who achieves a regular success on indulged Chalmers’ research, partly due to
a Charm or Convince skill roll against a her expertise in advancing the
target number of 13 is successful in this understanding of steam, and also as she was
attempt, with a special success or higher able to fund the work herself.
resulting in the adventurers gaining an
audience with Professor Cottingley. Cottingley mentions that in the weeks
leading up to her death, she was often visited

28
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

on separate occasions by two women. The a target number of 12 whilst examining

description he gives of the first matches Chalmers’ laboratory discovers a business
Imogen Hartley, whilst he describes the card for The Fatted Calf restaurant used as a
second as a ‘startlingly attractive auburn- bookmark in a scientific journal.
haired lady with a military manner about her.’
Cottingley was not introduced to the The Science of Aether
women, and therefore is unable to give the Any adventurer achieving a regular success or
names of either to the adventurers. higher on a Knowledge skill roll against a
target number of 12 is able to find a
Professor Chalmers’ laboratory published copy of Professor Chalmers’
If one of their number is educated in the contentious paper mentioned in her Hall of
discipline of steam or succeeded on the Records file.
previous skill roll, Professor Cottingley or The paper is relatively short, and posits
another member of the Hall of Steam will the existence of a new discipline of science
allow adventurers to examine Professor powered by the mystic energies of Aether. It
Chalmers’ laboratory. suggests that furthering study of such a new
The laboratory is large, and filled with field will lead to miraculous inventions the
various steam-powered contraptions and likes of which the world has never seen,
test devices. One piece of machinery catches especially if scientists and mystics from The
the eye of any adventurer who achieves a Empire and The Republic joined forces to
regular success or higher on a Knowledge that end.
skill roll against a target number of 12. Adventurers also discover several
Whilst obviously different, the machine is scathing articles in The Illustrated London
based on some of the same operating News criticising the Professor’s theory and
principles as the strange apparatus accusing it of being tantamount to treason.
discovered beneath the alley in Shoreditch. If
asked about this, Cottingley or another GM’s note
member of the Hall of Steam does not know Professor Chalmers’ theory caught the
the machine’s purpose, but does refer to it as attention of Mathilda Grayson, who
one of the late Professor’s ‘pet projects.’ visited her a number of times to learn if
the Professor was a potential recruit into
The Serpent’s Teeth. Promising
Chalmers access to unlimited funds with
the blessing of the Queen, Grayson was
able to convince the Professor to become
a member of her organisation.
Grayson also put Chalmers in touch
with the promising young mystic Imogen
Hartley, reasoning that the intellect of
the Professor and the aetheric talents of
Hartley might result in a faster route to
discover a method to reverse the curse
Any adventurer who achieves a regular afflicting the Queen. As such, Hartley
success or higher on a Detect skill roll against visited Chalmers often before her death.

29
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Sir Benjamin Whitaker 32b Chancery Lane

File photograph A first floor private apartment located on a
busy street in Holborn, adventurers might
have trouble gaining access to Whitaker’s
place of residence.
Attempt can be made, but requires
subterfuge and risks repercussion (perhaps
causing adventurers to meet with Inspector
Thorne sooner than intended.)
Gaining access to the apartment requires
two skill rolls to be made. The first, required
to avoid notice, is a Stealth skill roll against
a target number of 12. If an adventurer
attempting the roll achieves a regular success
or higher on this roll, they are able to gain
access to the public stairwell leading to
Whitaker’s apartment without rousing
suspicion.
Failing this skill roll is not calamitous, but
does catch the attention of a neighbour who
yells at the adventurers to ‘clear off’, making
subsequent attempts more difficult (the GM
can allow adventurers to try, but the target
number of the Stealth skill roll rises by 2
each time they attempt it.)
File entry If an adventurer rolls a critical failure as
Date of birth: 18th May, 1848 (47 years old) part of this roll, they are spotted by a passing
Date of death: 24th March, 1896 constable of the Greater London Police, and
ordered to leave the vicinity immediately. In
Residence: 32b Chancery Lane, Holborn
this instance, future attempts to gain access
(private apartments)
are impossible.
Workplace: Philanthropist and president of
Assuming the first Stealth skill roll is
The Flying Gentlemen’s Society
successful, an adventurer must achieve a
Marital status: Unmarried regular success or higher on a second Stealth
Criminal record: None skill roll against a target number of 14 to
Police report: The most recent victim of The pick the lock of Whitaker’s front door, or a
Scarlet Shadow. regular success or higher on a Force skill roll
against a target number of 12 to break the
Police records note that the murder has not door down.
yet been made public due to ‘extraordinary
circumstances’, in a report filed by Inspector Failing the Stealth skill roll has no
Harold Thorne. adverse effect, although a critical failure
results in the lock being damaged, making
Cause of death: Severe laceration to throat further attempts to pick it impossible.
with a single cut from a sharp blade.
Failing the Force skill roll results in

30
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

disturbing a neighbour in another ‘extracurricular activities’. Bartley-Smythe

apartment, who calls for the police ends the letter by scoffing that perhaps
immediately. Again, this makes further Whitaker is too ‘obsessed with the charming
attempts to gain access impossible. lady captain’ to provide him with much in the
way of challenge.
GM’s note The second item is an extract from a
Players may come up with alternative ledger of Whitaker’s charitable donations,
methods to infiltrate Whitaker’s dismissed by Thorne as irrelevant and also
apartments, perhaps through the clever found in the deceased man’s study.
use of inventions or invocations. Covering the last 10 months, it includes
Such attempts should be actively monetary amounts paid by Whitaker to St
encouraged by the GM, with particularly Jude’s Hospital, the Sisters of Salvation and
ingenious methods being rewarded with a benevolent fund run by The Human
suitably low target numbers. Society for laid-off workers.
Using all the steampunk tools, abilities The last three entries have each been
and powers at their disposal is after all made regularly over the last three months.
what makes adventurers special! The benefactor in each instance is the same,
and is listed as Professor Harriet Chalmers.

Inside Whitaker’s apartments The Flying Gentlemen’s Society

The apartments are well-appointed and The address of The Flying Gentlemen’s Society
consist of a study, drawing room, galley is publicly listed as 14 Angel Street, close to
kitchen, bedroom and lavatory. The Cathedral of Truth east of Holborn.
As Whitaker’s death was so recent, many It is promoted as a club for gentlemen
of his personal belongings are still in place with a professional interest in skyships and
(although Thorne has found and removed aerial vehicles, and its premises incorporate
some of the more incriminating items, such a bar, smoking room, reading room and
as evidence of Whitaker’s frequent visits to other private rooms available for hire.
the brothels of Shoreditch.)
Two items of interest missed by Thorne
can be found however by an adventurer
achieving a regular success or higher on a
Detect skill roll against a target number of
12.
The first is a letter that has slipped down
the back of a writing bureau in the study. It is
from an acquaintance of Whitaker’s named
Sir Anthony Bartley-Smythe, a fellow
member of The Flying Gentlemen’s Society.
The letter is addressed to ‘My dearest Brother’
and contains thinly-veiled euphemisms and
allusions to the pair’s ‘special friends’ in
Shoreditch, and alludes to a distasteful
wager the two men have over their

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 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

It is open between 10am and 1am and is a Smythe also receive a +2 modifier to such
members-only club, with access being rolls.
permitted by a doorman (upper-class) who Bartley-Smythe reveals two levels of
either checks visitors’ credentials or who information, only talking about the second
knows members by sight. level if it is obvious that the adventurers are
Gaining access requires a regular success aware of his and Whitaker’s ‘extracurricular
or higher on a Charm or Convince roll activities.’
against a target number of 13. This target The first level confirms that Bartley-
number increases to 15 if there are females Smythe and Whitaker were firm friends and
or automatons in the adventurers’ crew. spent a great deal of time together sampling
A ‘donation’ of 10 crowns (15 crowns if the the ‘many and varied delights that this
party includes women or automatons) will wonderful city has to offer’.
also suffice, although a regular success on an If asked about Whitaker’s likely
Etiquette skill roll against a target number membership of the Brotherhood of
of 12 reduces these criteria to 5 and 10 Industry, Bartley-Smythe confirms that
crowns respectively. both he and Whitaker were members, and
Once inside, adventurers are greeted that his late friend ‘worked tirelessly’ to help
politely by the several members present, those less fortunate than himself, primarily
although they receive a few odd looks. If they through financial donations. Bartley-Smythe
ask about Whitaker, they are directed to Sir also confirms that the source of Whitaker’s
Anthony Bartley-Smythe, a ‘close friend’ of wealth is legitimate, having been made from
the deceased. The longer they spend in The wise investments in the skyship
Flying Gentlemen’s Society, the more manufacturing business and other noble
adventurers realise that there is little here endeavours.
for those with a genuine interest in skyships, If confronted with evidence of any illicit
and the place seems to be little more than a activities (such as the letter found in
social club for idle upper class men. Whitaker’s study), Bartley-Smythe
Sitting alone in the smoking room, immediately starts to take on a grovelling
Bartley-Smythe (upper-class) is a portly, and pitiful tone, imploring the adventurers
well-dressed man of around fifty, drinking a not to divulge his activities in ‘the more
large glass of brandy from a crystal tumbler salubrious of the bordellos’ of Shoreditch to
and letting out frequent loud sighs. He his fellow Society members. He admits that
becomes animated if any of the adventurers he and Whitaker frequented such
are female, then lapses back into his partly establishments three or four times a week,
genuine morose state. and even had a ‘frivolous’ wager as to who
Bartley-Smythe is pompous, demeaning could ‘show the greatest stamina’, though
of those he views as beneath him (which is reminds the adventurers that he and
practically everyone), but is also relatively Whitaker did nothing that is, strictly
dim-witted and rather drunk. Attempts to speaking, illegal.
deceive, cajole or intimidate him will likely If asked about the ‘lady captain’
succeed, and any social skill rolls made mentioned in the letter, Bartley-Smythe
whilst attempting to interrogate him are reveals that Whitaker had met a ‘stunningly
made against a target number of 10. Any handsome woman’ a few months ago, a
female adventurers questioning Bartley- ‘military sort by the name of Grayson.’

32
 He goes on to tell adventurers that The Scarlet Shadow intervenes
Whitaker seemed to lose interest in his and
Bartley-Smythe’s ‘evening jaunts’ in If the adventurers have been progressing
Shoreditch shortly thereafter. with investigating the victims, their activities
have caught the attention of the Agent of The
He mentions that he only met Grayson
Aether Court.
once, and describes her as a ‘statuesque
goddess with flaming auburn tresses’, but that Suspecting them of being in league with
she looked at him with a mixture of ‘ill- Ahmhotep, The Serpent’s Teeth, or both, the
placed disdain and disgust.’ Agent attempts to stop them.
Although their mission has been given to
GM’s note them by Nala of the Suit of Hearts and
Whitaker was another of The Serpent’s Moloch of the Suit of Spades, the Agent is a
Teeth recruits bewitched by Mathilda devotee of the Suit of Clubs, chosen for their
Grayson’s charms. In him, she saw an prowess in martial matters.
almost limitless amount of funding for As such, they summon a Warrior of
her schemes, and convinced him to divert Kastos (level 3) to deal with the adventurers,
his charitable donations to Professor at some point after they have conducted at
Harriet Chalmers. least three investigations into The Scarlet
His and Bartley-Smythe’s activities in Shadow’s victims.
Shoreditch were questionable to say the The exact time and location of the attack is
least, but not strictly speaking illegal. left for the GM to devise, based on the
They did however allow the Agent of The adventurers’ activities at that point. The
Aether Court to predict Whitaker’s encounter should however take place after at
movements, and attack him in the least three investigations have been
alleyway close to The Brass Monkey, where completed, and before the adventurers call
he was discovered dying by Bennet. on Inspector Thorne.

33
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

No matter where or when the encounter

Adventurers will also likely have
takes place, it is conducted on a combat field
discovered the clues that show that
consisting of three range bands, with the
several of the victims were known to each
adventurers and the Warrior of Kastos
other, and part of some ‘society’ (as
starting in the left and rightmost bands
mentioned in Sir Percival’s letter to
respectively. By default, none of the range
Imogen Hartley.)
bands have environment tags, though the GM
should feel free to introduce one or more if As previously mentioned, the meaning
they feel it suits the narrative and and purpose of these links, whilst
surroundings. included in the GM’s notes in the
preceding sections, are not able to be fully
GM’s note understood by adventurers until later in
the Shadow of the Empire campaign.
If adventurers have been skilled,
fortuitous or a mixture of both in
conducting investigations into The Scarlet
Shadow’s victims, they will have gained Vice-Captain Mathilda Grayson
enough information to identify the sixth File photograph
target, using the following clues:
• The initials ‘GM’ in the shed in
Paddington Station
• The insignia of the elite corps of
The Palace Guard on Sir Percival’s
signet ring
• The physical description of
Grayson from Professor Cottingley
and Bartley-Smythe
• Professor Cottingley’s description
of her having an ‘almost military
manner’
• The reference to her as the ‘lady
captain’ in Bartley-Smythe’s letter
• The surname ‘Grayson’, revealed
by Bartley-Smythe

Although it is possible that adventurers

do not discover all of these clues, the ones
pointing to The Palace Guard, her
File entry
surname and description are enough to
perform a search at the Hall of Records Date of birth: 11th October, 1865 (30 years old)
and reveal the identity of the target as Residence: The Palace Guard Barracks, Pall
Vice-Captain Mathilda Grayson. Mall

34
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Workplace: As per residence

Marital status: Single
Criminal record: None
Notes: Grayson is a respected senior
member of the Palace Guard. She was
selected sixteen months ago for the honour
of providing sentry duty for The Heart of the
Empire – the memorial to Prince Augustus in
Hyde Park – and has performed this duty
every Sunday ever since.

GM’s note
As adventurers will know, Hyde Park is
closed every Sunday to allow Queen
Valentina II to pay her respects to her
dead love, Prince Augustus.
It was during these weekly pilgrimages
to the mausoleum known as The Heart of
the Empire that the Queen became aware
of Grayson’s intellect, prowess and
ambition, and – realising that the Vice-
Captain might be a powerful ally and tool
– persuaded her to form The Serpent’s
Teeth, should allow if the players so wish. If they do
this and learn of Mathilda Grayson’s identity
Grayson, sensing an opportunity to before finishing their investigations, the
further her own standing and career, choice as to whether to visit her now or later
readily agreed. Valentina then tasked her should be left to the players. The finale plays
with assembling ‘trusted friends’ to out the same whenever the adventurers
research a ‘cure’ to the Queen’s malady, choose to initiate it (see An alternative route
no matter the cost. to the finale following.)

Shoreditch police station

Calling on the Inspector
Adventurers have previously been given the
Visiting Inspector Thorne provides a direct location of the police station from Constable
route to the finale of the mission, and can be Bennet.
used as a means of making sure the
It is a squat and imposing building of sooty
adventurers are still able to proceed if they
red brick on the corner of two streets in the
have missed vital clues from the
centre of Shoreditch. The station is open at
investigations (or have been unable to piece
all hours of the day and night, but the
them together.)
Inspector is only present during the daytime
It is also possible that adventurers may and early evening, unless a serious incident
wish to speak with the Inspector between is taking place in the district.
investigating the victims, which the GM

35
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Constable Bennet is out on patrol when motives, and provide an opportunity to

the adventurers visit the station, meaning he increase or decrease his opinion of them.
is not there to provide an introduction or to As Thorne is a recurring character in later
smooth any feathers the adventurers may missions of the campaign, the adventurers’
ruffle. reputation with him should be tracked, using
The adventurers are met by a desk the rules in the Core rulebook on page 365
sergeant, Penelope Pitt-Stott, a thirty- onwards. Inspector Thorne starts with a
something blonde woman whose face shows reputation of aloof towards the adventurers,
signs of stress and tiredness. Any request to meaning that any skill rolls made during
meet with Inspector Thorne is met with a adventure mode that have him as a target
wearied sigh, before Struthers asks for the suffer from a -2 negative modifier.
purpose of their visit. She then calls his
office on a crystal communicator. Discovering Thorne’s motives
Although the adventurers cannot hear the Thorne is brusque to the point of being
Inspector’s voice, Pitt-Stott’s’ face darkens impolite with the adventurers, motioning for
as she listens to his words. If the adventurers them to sit or stand and say their piece as
have mentioned The Scarlet Shadow to Pitt- quickly as possible.
Stott, she relays this to the Inspector with It is obvious he is suffering from stress,
her eyes closed. If the adventurers reveal and he constantly drums on his desk with his
they are working for The Ministry, she fingers whilst glancing frequently at the
informs the Inspector of this fact too, whilst clock on his office wall.
staring at them with a mixture of curiosity
Adventurers likely have several questions
and suspicion.
and lines of enquiry with Thorne. Topics are
If the adventurers have mentioned neither presented below, and Thorne will only
The Scarlet Shadow nor The Ministry, provide an answer to a topic on a regular
Struthers apologises and informs them that success or higher on a Charm or Convince
the Inspector is too busy to be interrupted. skill roll against a target number of 10 (note
If however they have mentioned either that his aloof status imposes a further -2
subject, she informs them that the Inspector negative modifier on all such rolls.)
will see them now in his office, which she Adventurers can keep asking about the
directs them to. same topic, or ask him to expand on previous
answers. He will provide different levels of
Meeting the Inspector information based on the cumulative
The meeting with Inspector Thorne is number of successes achieved. A special
primarily a role-playing encounter designed success on a skill roll counts as two successes
to ensure that the adventurers discover the in this regard, whilst a critical success counts
identify of Mathilda Grayson. as three.
The GM should not communicate this to If adventurers accumulate five or more
the players, and have them believe their failures on skill rolls made when questioning
actions and demeanour will have an impact Thorne, he loses his patience and the
on proceedings. adventurers’ reputation level with him drops
That said, how the adventurers handle to suspected. He is about to show them out
their interaction with Thorne does impact when he is interrupted (see An interruption
how much they discover about his own following.)

36
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

If adventurers exhaust all topics without Topic: Thorne’s behaviour in the alley
accumulating five failures, the GM should
instigate the interruption when they feel • One success: “That lad Bennet has seen
there is no further information to impart to enough. I wanted to put an end to this
the adventurers. killing spree once and for all and take
over the case myself.”
Topic: The Scarlet Shadow • Two successes “I knew the victim
• One success: “a terrible business, I am personally.”
leading the case personally and shall • Three or more successes: “The victim
not rest until the killer is found.” was a member of the Brotherhood of
• Two successes: “I am close to finding Industry, and a friend.”
the culprit … or culprits, should I
say.” Topic: Sir Benjamin Whitaker
• Three or more successes: “I have reason • One success: “He was a fellow member
to believe the Skyship Workers Union of the Brotherhood.”
are behind these gruesome killings”
• Two successes “He was a friend as well
Topic: The killer might be an automaton as a Brother.”

• One success: “It’s possible, I suppose. • Three or more successes: “I didn’t

Do you have evidence?” approve of his activities in
Shoreditch, but they were not illegal.
• Two successes: “Or perhaps someone He certainly did not deserve to die in
disguised as one?” an alley with his throat sliced open.”
• Three or more successes: “That’s clever.
What better way for the killer to cover Topic: Sir Anthony Bartley-Smythe
their tracks then order one of those
creations to do their dirty work?” • One success: “I have met him once or
(The adventurers’ reputation level twice.”
with Thorne rises one degree.) • Two successes “He is a fellow member
of the Brotherhood of Industry.”
Topic: Eliza Shaw
• Three or more successes: “He is an
• One success: “I wouldn’t be trusting insufferable ass.”
that one if I was you.”
• Two successes: “She’s nothing but a Topic: The Brotherhood of Industry
little good-for-nothing urchin!” • One success: “I have reason to believe
• Three or more successes: “You’re aware that there are some parties that wish
she’s one of The Magpies? I hope you the Brotherhood ill.”
checked your pockets after you spoke • Two successes: “I am a member of the
to her…” Brotherhood, as was the victim. There
is a vendetta against us.”

37
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

• Three or more successes: “The Skyship • Three or more successes: “They should
Workers Union and The Brotherhood stick to matters of the Royal Court
of Industry have been at odds of late. and not interfere in good honest
If we are in search of a culprit, I police work!”
suggest we look in the Union’s ranks.”
Topic: Grayson
Topic: The Skyship Workers Union
• One success: “That name is unfamiliar
• One success: “They draw in a lot of to me.”
troublemakers.”
• Two successes: Thorne’s face darkens
• Two successes: “They are violently but he says no more
opposed to the Brotherhood of
• Three or more successes: “Damn that
Industry.”
woman! She wants to take over the
• Three or more successes: “I am investigation! Under whose
convinced one or more individuals in jurisdiction, might I ask?”
the Union are behind these murders.”
Topic: We discovered the victims were
Topic: The other victims connected

• One success: “They were all murdered • One success: “A lot of people are
in other districts. I have conferred connected in London.”
with my counterparts but we have • Two successes “Interesting. Tell me
found no connection other than the more.”
method of killing.”
• Three or more successes: “Impressive.”
• Two successes “The retired army (The adventurers’ reputation level
captain was a member of the with Thorne rises by one degree)
Brotherhood too. I suspect the others
were killed to throw us off the track of
uncovering the true motive.” Topic: Tunnels, chambers and portals

• Three or more successes: “I and my • One success: “London is built on layer

counterparts received an order from upon layer of history.”
the Royal Court not to publish the • Two successes “Interesting. Tell me
names of the victims, for fear of more.”
upsetting the populace.”
• Three or more successes: “Impressive.”
Topic: The Palace Guard (The adventurers’ reputation level
with Thorne rises by one degree)
• One success: “I fail to see the
relevance.”
A note on Thorne’s suspicions
• Two successes: “It’s true, they have
Thorne is genuine in believing that the
taken an interest in this case.” Skyship Workers Union is connected to the

38
murders, but obviously mistaken. has been sighted in Hyde Park. She goes on
The suspicion leads from current poor to say that the information has come from a
relations between the Brotherhood of contact in the Palace Guard, who has told
Industry and the Skyship Workers Union, her that Vice-Captain Mathilda Grayson is
with the latter group becoming more vocal in attempting to apprehend the Shadow but
their opposition of ‘corrupt capitalists.’ When appears to be in some difficulty.
Thorne discovered the latest victim was a Pitt-Stott says that is all the information
fellow member of the Brotherhood, he she has, but knows how important finding
immediately jumped to the conclusion that the murderer is to Inspector Thorne so felt
the Union are behind the killings. compelled to share the information with him
Thorne is, despite his brusque demeanour immediately.
and incorrect suspicions, an honest police Thorne leaps to his feet on hearing this
officer and is as keen to see the killings information and starts shouting orders to
stopped as anyone. his staff in the station. Then, remembering
that Hyde Park is outside of his district’s
An interruption jurisdiction, he slams the desk in anger and
turns to the adventurers.
When the adventurers have accumulated five
He asks, in their capacity as agents of The
failures on skill rolls or have exhausted all
Ministry, if they are willing to assist Grayson
topics of enquiry with Thorne, the door to
and more importantly help the Greater
his office bursts open.
London Police stop The Scarlet Shadow once
Desk sergeant Pitt-Stott rushes into the and for all.
office and exclaims that The Scarlet Shadow

39
 this breach of protocol. Pitt-Stott asks the
Race to the Park adventurers to follow her as she pulls on her
Assuming the adventurers agree to Thorne’s coat and runs to the station yard,
request, Pitt-Stott raises a point of concern. The carriage is large enough to take all the
Even if the adventurers are successful in adventurers as passengers, and Pitt-Stott is
hailing a cab, it will take them upwards of an accomplished and daring driver.
thirty minutes to reach Hyde Park, by which Although the journey is a little hair-raising
time the situation there may have escalated it is nevertheless without mishap, and Pitt-
or worse. She does however, with Thorne’s Stott deposits the adventurers at the edge of
permission, suggest an alternative. Hyde Park close to where The Scarlet Shadow
One of the police vehicles – a prototype and Grayson have been sighted in an
steam-powered personal carriage – is impressive twelve minutes.
parked in the yard. She offers to use this to
drive the adventurers to the park, using its An alternative route to the finale
onboard klaxon to clear the way through
London’s busy traffic. This should enable the As previously mentioned, it is possible that
adventurers to get to Hyde Park in half the adventurers will identify Grayson from the
time, hopefully quick enough to apprehend clues obtained during their investigations,
The Scarlet Shadow on behalf of The Ministry and may decide to call on her before visiting
and the Greater London Police. Inspector Thorne.
Thorne frowns at the suggestion at first If they have used the Hall of Records to
then quickly agrees to ‘turn a blind eye’ to identify Grayson and choose this path to the

40
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

finale, they arrive at the Palace Guard hasn’t heard from the adventurers after
barracks in Pall Mall to be informed that thirty minutes.
Vice-Captain Grayson is on patrol in Hyde Inside, the leafy green space has a quiet
Park, and the finale continues as described and mournful atmosphere due to it being
below. devoid of people. Any adventurer who
achieves a regular success or higher on a
Arriving at Hyde Park Detect skill roll against a target number of
12 is alerted to the faint sound of a female cry
When the adventurers arrive at Hyde Park,
coming from the direction of the
they find all the gates have been locked, and
mausoleum,
the park empty of visitors, despite it not
being a Sunday.
The park is large and there is no sign of Confronting The Shadow
Grayson or The Scarlet Shadow, although the The mausoleum can be entered via a large
black marble dome of The Heart of the black marble arch, normally protected by a
Empire mausoleum can be seen rising above member of the Palace Guard but currently
the treetops. unguarded.
It is a relatively simple task to climb the Once inside, adventurers get a sight of
gates and get inside, requiring no roll. If the The Scarlet Shadow at last.
adventurers arrived with Pitt-Stott, she The Agent of The Aether Court, their face
refuses to accompany them further, stating obscured by a white porcelain mask, is
that entering the park would fall outside her bleeding from a wound in their left side.
jurisdiction as a member of the Shoreditch Opposite the Agent, with the eternal flame
police force. She does however report in to burning to the memory of Prince Augustus
Thorne over her crystal communicator, and between them, is Vice-Captain Mathilda
the Inspector promises that he will ensure Grayson
such formalities are ignored if Pitt-Stott
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Grayson has her sabre drawn, the blade invocation and begins to disappear. Their
dripping with blood. She is however frozen mask clatters to the marble ground of the
in place, unable to move as the Agent of The mausoleum and adventurers get a glimpse of
Aether Court advances towards her wielding their true face: a pale, smooth-skinned
a wickedly sharp knife. female with yellow eyes who smiles at them
How adventurers react dictates how the as she disappears.
finale plays out. The Agent cannot be It is more likely however that the
reasoned with, suspecting that the adventurers will try to stop who they believe
adventurers are in league with The is The Scarlet Shadow. If adventurers choose
Serpent’s Teeth. this course of action, combat mode is
If adventurers attempt to interfere with initiated.
their plan to kill Grayson, the Agent turns on The combat takes place on a combat field
them instead, knowing that the effect of their with three range bands. The centre range
Hold in Place action imposed on Grayson will band represents the eternal burning flame of
last for at least another few minutes. the Heart of the Empire and has the
Adventurers may have reason to believe treacherous environment tag. When
Grayson deserves her fate and may allow the adventurers enter the mausoleum, they are
Agent to carry out their grim task. If they in the same range band as Grayson, with the
follow this course of action, they watch as Agent of The Aether Court in the furthest
the Agent of The Aether Court walks up to range band from them.
the helpless Grayson and slits her throat. As Any attempts to rouse Grayson from her
Grayson dies, the agent mutters an unknown frozen state are fruitless.
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

Combat tactics reputation with the Palace Guard is reduced

Although the Agent of The Aether Court is by one degree if Grayson dies.
only armed with their knife, they have three
invocation-like actions that they will use to If Grayson survives
stop or defeat the adventurers. If the adventurers save Grayson, she quickly
They will use their Cease This Madness regains her composure and assumes a
action first, in an attempt to drain position of command.
adventurers of their action points for two She brusquely thanks the adventurers for
turns. their intervention, then makes to leave for
If this is successful, they will use their the Palace Guard barracks.
Cleansing Flame action to inflict harm on as She refuses to be drawn into questioning,
many adventurers as possible (and also to dismissing the killer as an ‘obvious
inflict harm on Grayson, who is already madwoman possessed by some treasonous
wounded as represented in her statistic mystic poison.’ She does not react to any
block in Appendix A.) mention of the other victims, or to any
The Agent will then use their Hold in Place ‘society’ alluded to in Sir Percival’s letter to
action, and will cast this at the adventurer Hartley.
that they feel looks most threatening. That said, word of the adventurers’
After their abilities have been spent or the actions does reach the ears of Grayson’s
situation changes, the Agent of The Aether colleagues in the Palace Guard and their
Court will move to engage adventurers and reputation with that faction improves by one
strike with their knife. Not that they also degree.
have an ability that allows them to make
more than one attack with this weapon Reporting back to Thorne
without suffering the multiple attack penalty. One way or another, the adventurers have
The Agent of The Aether Court will refuse put an end to The Scarlet Shadow’s reign of
to surrender, and will fight until their harm- terror over London.
limit is reached. Once it has been reached, Thorne asks to meet with them in his
they fall to the ground, their mask tumbling office in Shoreditch police station, which
from their face as described earlier, and Pitt-Stott offers to drive them back to if she
their body will begin to vanish. Adventurers brought the adventurers to Hyde Park.
get a glimpse of the Agent’s pale skin and There, they are welcomed into Thorne’s
yellow eyes before the body disappears. office, where he is keen to hear what
If Grayson still lives, the effect of the happened. Constable Bennet is also in
Agent’s Hold in Place action is dispelled when attendance, and is pleased to see the
the Agent is defeated. adventurers again.
In the course of hearing what transpired
If Grayson does not survive in Hyde Park, Thorne admits that he was too
If Grayson is killed by the Agent during this hasty to suspect the Skyship Workers Union
encounter, adventurers are left with little and that his judgement was coloured by his
option than to report back to Pitt-Stott and own personal prejudices and friendship with
Thorne. Whitaker. He apologises to both the
Even if they attempted to save her, their adventurers and Bennet, and if the

43
 The Aether Throne - The Scarlet Shadow Strikes

adventurers’ reputation with Thorne is not duty activity of their choice, be it earning an
yet at trusted level, it rises to that level now. income, researching a topic or skill, or even
Once the meeting is over, he rises and planning a group activity.
shakes each one of the adventurers by the Adventurers gain the following growth
hand, assuring them that they are welcome points for completing this mission, likely
to pay him or any of his officers a visit if they enough to see them reach level 2.
should ever find themselves ‘in need of police
• One growth point for defeating the
assistance.’
Blackwing gang members in The Brass
Monkey
Reporting back to Monk
• One growth point for defeating the
Their mission now at an end, adventurers guardian automaton in The Scarlet
are expected to return to The Ministry and Shadow’s lair
deliver their report in person to Alice Monk.
She acknowledges the adventurers’ • One growth point for each of the
success in stopping The Scarlet Shadow and investigations they successfully found
agrees that the Agent’s physical appearance all evidence for
was somewhat disconcerting. Monk • One growth point for defeating the
promises to raise the matter with ‘qualified Warrior of Kastos
experts’ and will inform the adventurers
when their services are next needed. • One growth point if they deduced the
identity of Grayson before visiting
With that, she states that the adventurers Thorne
are ‘dismissed’.
• One growth point for defeating the
Agent of the Aether Court
GM’s note
If the GM and players are planning to • One growth point if they saved
continue with the Shadow of the Empire Grayson
campaign, the GM should make a point of
emphasising Thorne and Monk’s belief Note that the maximum possible growth
that they have saved London from a point award available is 11. Even if
terrible foe. adventurers achieved 10 or 11 growth points
In actuality, the adventurers have likely during the mission, they only achieve level 2
foiled an Agent of the very forces that are and any additional growth points are lost.
trying to stop Ahmhotep from bringing If the GM and players are planning on
about a terrible fate – something that they playing the subsequent missions in the
will realise as their adventures continue… Shadow of the Empire campaign, the GM
should take note of any changes to the
adventurers’ reputations, some of which will
End of the mission be relevant in the missions to follow.
The adventurers’ mission is at an end, and
off-duty mode is initiated. Epilogue
Adventurers have all that London has to If the GM and players plan to continue the
offer at their disposal, and can choose an off- campaign, the following episode leads them

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into the events of Crossing The Veil, the next

mission in the campaign arc. GM’s note
After being informed of the Agent of The
After adventurers have completed off-
Aether Court’s appearance by Alice
duty mode and gained a level if appropriate,
Monk, Lestrange realised the true nature
one of them receives a message.
of the killer.
If one of the adventurers is a Mystic or is
She communed with Nala, Queen of
trained in Aether, the message is delivered
Hearts in The Aether Court and
to them in the form of a lucid dream,
discovered part of the truth: that the
otherwise the message is delivered to one of
Agent was trying to save The Empire.
the adventurers at random via their crystal
communicator. Nala informed Lestrange that the
adventurers, through having discovered
The message is from Monique Lestrange,
‘threads yet to be fully woven’ are best
the president of The Aetheric Academy,
placed to learn more of The Aether
requesting the urgent presence of the
Court’s knowledge and avert a possible
adventurers to discuss a matter of utmost
catastrophe the like of which the world
discretion that could have repercussions on
has never seen.
the fate of The Empire itself. Lestrange
awaits the adventurers’ presence in the Nala also made Lestrange promise not
Scrying Hall of the Academy forthwith and to utter a word of her message to anyone
urges them to tell no-one of her request, not but the adventurers themselves…
even Director Alice Monk …

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Appendix A - NPCs Guardian automaton (level 2)

automaton, medium
Blackwing gang member (level 1) Fortitude: +2 Dexterity: +1
human, medium, lower-class, gang-member Wits: 0 Charisma: 0
Fortitude: +1 Dexterity: +1
Wits: 0 Charisma: 0 harm-limit: 10 (wounded 4, injured 7)
Target Number to Hit: 13
harm-limit: 7 (wounded 3, injured 5)
Reinforced body: armour-1, threshold-2
Target Number to Hit: 13
Strike actions Strike actions
Knife (1AP) +2, harm-1, bleed Claw (1AP) +3. harm-1
Fire actions Crush (2AP) +3, harm-2
Pistol (1AP) +2, harm-1, ranged, close
medium Fire actions
Spiked rivets +2. harm-1, ranged, close,
Unique ability
medium
Gang up: If another gang member is
present, the Blackwing gang member
Unique action
receives a +1 modifier to all strike actions.
Metallic roar (2AP): The guardian
automaton emits a deafening roar. All
Eliza Shaw (level 2) participants in the combat excluding the
human, medium, lower-class, gang-member guardian automaton lose 1 action point
Fortitude: 0 Dexterity: +2 until the end of their next turn. The
Wits: +1 Charisma: 0 guardian automaton can only use this
action once per combat encounter.
harm-limit: 5 (wounded 2, injured 4)
Target Number to Hit: 14

Strike actions
Unarmed (1AP) +1, harm-0

Fire actions
None

Unique ability
Street rat: If being chased, Shaw can draw
two cards when determining if they face
an obstacle. They can choose which card
to use.

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Warrior of Kastos (level 3) Constable Oliver Bennet (level 1)

beast, ally, medium human, medium, lower-class
Fortitude: +2 Dexterity: +2 Fortitude: +1 Dexterity: +1
Wits: 0 Charisma: 1 Wits: 0 Charisma: 0

harm-limit: 10 (wounded 4, injured 7) harm-limit: 7 (wounded 3, injured 5)

Target Number to Hit: 14 Target Number to Hit: 13

Strike action Strike actions

Claw (1AP) +3. harm-2 Baton (1AP) +2. harm-1, stun
Bite (2AP) +4. harm-2, bleed
Fire actions
Unique action Revolver (1AP) +2. harm-1, ranged, close,
Roar (2AP) all opponents in the same medium, small-firearm
range band have their Target
Number to Hit reduced by 1.
Penelope Pitt-Stott (level 2)
human, medium, lower-class
Inspector Thorne (level 3)
human, medium, middle-class, police Fortitude: +1 Dexterity: +2
Wits: 0 Charisma: 0
Fortitude: +2 Dexterity: +1
Wits: +1 Charisma: 0
harm-limit: 7 (wounded 3, injured 5)
harm-limit: 10 (wounded 4, injured 7) Target Number to Hit: 14
Target Number to Hit: 13
Strike actions
Strike actions Baton (1AP) +2. harm-1, stun
Unarmed (1AP) +3, harm-1
Fire actions
Fire actions Revolver (1AP) +2. harm-1, ranged, close,
Revolver (1AP) +2. harm-1, ranged, close, medium, small-firearm
medium, small-firearm

Unique ability Unique ability

Pugilist: Thorne is trained in martial Fast and Furious: If Penelope Pitt-Stott is
arts, allowing him to inflict 1 point of in command of a land-based vehicle of
harm with his Unarmed strike action any kind, that vehicle’s speed is increased
by +1. If she is driving a vehicle that is
Man of the law: Thorne cannot be bribed, involved in a chase, she can draw two
coerced, convinced or charmed into cards when determining if she faces an
performing any illegal act. obstacle. choose one, then discard both.

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Vice-Captain Mathilda Grayson (level Agent of The Aether Court (level 4)

3) Aether Court, medium
human, medium, upper-class, palace-guard Fortitude: +1 Dexterity: +1
Fortitude: +2 Dexterity: +1 Wits: +3 Charisma: 0
Wits: 0 Charisma: +2
harm-limit: 10 (wounded 4, injured 7)
Target Number to Hit: 13
harm-limit: 10 (wounded 4, injured 7)
Target Number to Hit: 13 Strike actions
Guard armour: armour-1, threshold-2 Knife (1AP) +3. harm-2, bleed
Fire actions
Strike actions None
Sabre (1AP) +3. harm-1, bleed
Unique actions (single use only):
Hold in Place (2AP): The Agent of The
Fire actions Aether Court utters an incantation that
Rifle (1AP) +4, harm-2, ranged, targets one participant. That target must
medium, long succeed on an opposed Wits roll against
the Agent of The Aether Court. If the
target fails, they do not receive action
Unique ability points until the start of the tenth round
Beguile: Grayson, via power granted to following the incantation.
her by Ahmhotep, convinces others to
follow her commands and suggestions. Cease This Madness (2AP): The Agent of
When she makes a suggestion, her target The Aether Court utters an incantation
must make an opposed Charisma roll that targets all participants in a single
against her, and her target receives a -4 range band. Each participant must make
negative modifier to the roll. If the target an opposed Wits roll against the Agent of
fails, they must follow Grayson’s The Aether Court. Any participant who
command. fails the roll loses all action points until
the end of their next turn.

Unique action Cleansing Flame (2AP): The Agent of The

Aether Court targets all participants in a
Charge (2AP): Grayson takes the move single range band. All participants in that
action and can then engage and strike one range band immediately suffer 2 points of
target with her sabre. harm.
Unique ability
Notes
Levitate: The Agent of The Aether Court
When encountered at the Heart of The
is able to ascend or descend a height of
Empire in Hyde Park, Grayson is frozen
twenty feet without needing to climb.
and cannot take actions for the next 10
rounds. She has also suffered 7 points of Way of the Blade: The Agent of The
harm and is injured. Aether Court does not suffer the multiple
attack penalty when using their knife.

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Appendix B - Player handouts

Scroll found in the tunnels beneath Shoreditch

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Letter found in Imogen Hartley’s lodgings

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Carvings on wall in engine shed, Paddington Station

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Business card found in Professor Chalmers’ laboratory

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Letter found in Whitaker’s study

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Extract from ledger found in Whitaker’s study

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Appendix C - Combat Fields

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Terror stalks the streets of London. Dubbed Streets of London and takes adventurers to
The Scarlet Shadow by the press, a killer has places they never dared dream imagine.
claimed the lives of five unfortunate souls.
In this mission you will find:
Adventurers, at the behest of Director Alice
• A confounding mission filled with
Monk of The Ministry, are tasked with
investigating the killings and putting an end intrigue, conspiracies and danger
to the murderer’s reign of terror. • GM notes throughout to help get the
most from the mission
But as they look into the crimes and discover
a web of connections that others have • Detailed handouts, maps and combat
missed, can they be sure that these are the fields
senseless killings of a deranged criminal, or • New NPCs and creatures that
is there something greater at play? adventurers will encounter

The Scarlet Shadow Strikes is the first • Details on the Hall of Records, a new
mission in the Shadow of The Empire, a Site of The Empire
five-mission epic campaign that starts in the

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