โก Quick Prep: Next Session Hook
โก Strong Start & Opening Read-Aloud
- GM AP Pool: Add 2 Action Points per PC to the GM pool at the start of this quest.
- Hook Context: The party is traveling together along the ruined roads outside ๐New Renoโas hired caravan guards, wanderers, or bounty huntersโwhen they stumble upon a freshly slain traveler.
"With all that's happened, you weren't sure what you were expectingโฆ but a diplomatic courier pouch from the NCR, addressed to Mr. Bishop of New Reno? Definitely not near the top of the list, and definitely worth something to the right people. The unopened mail parcel bears a diplomatic seal, and the fact that it's miraculously still glued shut means that it still has value."
๐บ๏ธ Target Quest & Active Scenes
- Main Quest: ๐Courier, Interrupted
- Scene 1 (Investigation): It Always Starts with a Body (๐The Mojave Wasteland)
- Inspect Courier Twelve corpse:
PER + Medicine(Diff 0). Pristine single bullet wound; rare Mojave rattlesnake venom was smeared post-mortem on the neck to disguise an execution. - Search courier satchel:
PER + SurvivalorPER + Search(Diff 1) finds the sealed NCR diplomatic dispatch to โ๏ธThe Bishop Family. - Scene 2 (Branching Choice):
- Branch A: Deliver dispatch to ๐ญMr. John Bishop at ๐The Shark Club (100 Caps fee, weapons check at door, Bishop pitches mercenary contract).
- Branch B: Flip dispatch to โ๏ธThe Wright Family for 75 Caps (sealed) or 25 Caps (opened).
- Scene 3 (Convergence): Gathering leads in ๐New Reno, meeting ๐ญSol Hernandez at the Crimson Caravan Depot, talking to ๐ญLindy at ๐Golgotha Cemetery.
๐ต๏ธ 10 Prepared Secrets & Clues
- Courier Twelve was shot to death by a firearm; rare black venom was smeared on her tongue/neck post-mortem.
- The courier's bag was looted of minor goods, but the sealed manila envelope was stuffed deep in her torn duster lining.
- General Lee Oliver's letter explicitly denies New Reno troop reinforcement due to mobilization at Hoover Dam.
- ๐ญMr. John Bishop enforces a strict weapons check at the Shark Club door; smuggling multiple guns triggers an instant ban.
- โ๏ธThe Wright Family hates drug running and will pay 75 caps for the sealed letter to spy on Bishop's political ties.
- Sylvia โ๏ธVan Graff is losing laser/plasma energy weapon shipments to coordinated raider ambushes.
- ๐ญLindy the Ghoul at ๐Golgotha Cemetery has buried 4 caravan drivers with matching pristine gunshot wounds.
- ๐ญSol Hernandez's โ๏ธCrimson Caravan Company branch is facing shutdown by corporate if one more caravan is lost.
- The raiders operating south toward Virginia City are the organized Viper gang, not wild chem-crazed savages.
- ๐Hidden Valley is a natural killzone choke point where the next Crimson Caravan will be ambushed in 24 hours.
๐ฐ Loot & Rewards Queue
- 100 Caps: Mr. Bishop's goodwill delivery fee (or 75 caps from Wrights / 25 caps from Van Graffs).
- Sol Hernรกndez Contract Advance:
- 1x Pipe Gun (Long Barrel mod) + 12 rounds .38 ammo
- 1x Utility Coveralls or Road Leathers
- 6x Mutfruits & 2x Stimpaks
- 150 Caps Crimson Caravan Credit
โ๏ธ Faction Standing
Diplomatic tiers & sphere of influence
๐ Struggling under devastating losses from coordinated raider ambushes along Route 95 and Route 395. Regional branch manager Sol Hernandez is under immense corporate pressure to resolve trade route sabotage.
๐ MIM is funding raider gangs across Nevada to disrupt rival caravan networks and create a regional arms crisis, positioning itself to supply both sides of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.
๐ John Bishop is maneuvering to dominate Reno with secret NCR backing. He requested NCR garrison troops to secure trade roads, but General Oliver's refusal forces him to hire independent wasteland mercenaries.
๐ Led by rogue Boomer Major Boulanger. Believes regional war is inevitable and seeks to accelerate total conflict across Nevada by distributing pre-war heavy weapons to gangs and settlements alike.
๐ Ruthless energy-weapon dealers who eliminate competitors. Suffering heavy financial hits from raider ambushes delaying laser weapon shipments.
๐ Deal in bootlegged alcohol and family loyalty. Strictly forbid chems. Will buy Bishop's intercepted diplomatic dispatch to gain political leverage over their rivals in New Reno.
๐ Active Story Arcs & Quests
Active storylines in play โข 0 completed quests archived in Storyboard.
Welcome to the Mojave ๐ ARC
Chapter Two: The events of Royal Flush begin in the northern Mojave near New Reno and Lake Tahoe. The party must investigate a mysterious murdered courier, navigate mob turf wars, deal with subterranean tunneler threats, and uncover corporate intrigue at Mojave Industrial & Mining before tracking the source of illicit military weaponry south.
The party begins to uncover that high-grade pre-war and NCR military armaments are flooding into gang hands across the Mojave, orchestrated from behind the scenes by accelerationist conspirators aiming to blow open the region.
Bishops, Queens, and Kings ๐ ARC
Chapter Three: All roads lead south toward Hawthorne, Markleeville, and the military stronghold of Arsenal. Following leads along Route 95 or Route 395, the party navigates competing faction bids between the Bishop Family, Crimson Caravan, and local settlements while zeroing in on the weapons cache.
Cho Dae and conspirators at Arsenal have been arming local raiders to stretch NCR defenses thin. The trail leads directly to the mastermind in the Mojave Wasteland.
High Hand ๐ ARC
Chapter Four: The high-stakes climax in the shadow of New Vegas, through Beatty and up the Long 15 to Nellis Air Force Base. The party must stop an impending catastrophic bombardment and settle the fate of the Mojave once and for all.
Major Boulanger and Boomer/ex-military rogue factions intend to deploy heavy pre-war ordnance (Boomer artillery/missiles) to purge NCR influence and reshape the political landscape.
๐ญ Pinned Cast & Key Contacts
Active characters pinned for quick reference during play.
Commanding officer of the heavily fortified ๐Arsenal facility. A battle-hardened military tactician in reinforced flight armor.
Peace is a pre-war delusion. The only truth the wasteland understands is high-explosive ordnance.
A ruthless accelerationist military mastermind. She does not care about caps, power, or territoryโher singular goal is to spark an unstoppable war between the NCR, Caesar's Legion, and regional warlords by flooding the wasteland with heavy artillery.
Patriarch of the Bishop crime family and owner of ๐The Shark Club. Sharp pre-war formal suit, well-groomed, with a piercing calculating gaze. Speaks smoothly with veiled threats while pouring top-shelf liquor and measuring visitors.
Where did you find this parcel? And why bring it to me instead of someone else?
Ruthless and ambitious. Seeking to leverage the Second Battle of Hoover Dam to turn New Reno into a manufacturing capital under his sole rule. Requested NCR troops from General Oliver, and was rebuffed.
Sol Hernandez
๐ก๏ธ PARTY CONTACTTired, grizzled veteran manager under extreme corporate pressure. Runs the Crimson Caravan Depot in ๐New Reno, desperately seeking reliable mercenaries to protect supply convoys.
Every day those passes stay blocked is another thousand caps bleeding out of my ledger. Find out who's arming those raiders.
On the verge of being demoted or replaced by the Hub board if the next two supply trains fail to reach their destinations.
๐บ๏ธ World Atlas & Key Strongholds
Known realms, cities, and establishments organized hierarchically.
๐ฒ The Core Region
The central civilized and populated expanse of Northern Nevada, centered around the trade hubs of New Reno, Carson, and the mining heights of Virginia City.
The central civilized and populated expanse of Northern Nevada, centered around the trade hubs of New Reno, Carson, and the mining heights of Virginia City.
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere A rustic, hardscrabble agricultural settlement built around old canal irrigation lines south of Reno. A frequent resupply stop for caravans traveling to Tahoe. Governed by the Carson Town Elders. ๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services Carson Trading Post: General supplies, fresh Brahmin milk, crops. Irrigation Pumping Tunnels: Subterranean waterworks recently infiltrated by chem distillers.
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere
A rustic, hardscrabble agricultural settlement built around old canal irrigation lines south of Reno. A frequent resupply stop for caravans traveling to Tahoe. Governed by the Carson Town Elders.
๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services
- Carson Trading Post: General supplies, fresh Brahmin milk, crops.
- Irrigation Pumping Tunnels: Subterranean waterworks recently infiltrated by chem distillers.
๐ฒ Hidden Valley
A narrow rocky canyon chokepoint south of New Reno along the trade route to Virginia City, notorious for raider ambush perches.
A narrow rocky canyon chokepoint south of New Reno along the trade route to Virginia City, notorious for raider ambush perches.
The biggest little city in the post-apocalyptic world. Ruled by warring mob families and flooded with casinos, chems, and guns. ๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services ๐ช Casinos, Services & Merchants ๐The Shark Club: Proprietor: ๐ญMr. John Bishop Services: Luxury casino, weapons-checked lounge, private mob executive suites. ๐The Silver Rush: Proprietor: Sylvia Van Graff Services: Laser rifles, plasma weapons, fusion cells. Crimson Caravan Depot: Proprietor: ๐ญSol Hernandez Services: Long-distance freight, caravan hiring, trade credit. ๐ฒ Outlying Landmarks & Sub-Locations ๐Golgotha Cemetery: Massive desert cemetery south of town managed by ๐ญLindy. Hidden Valley: A narrow rocky choke point south along the Virginia City trade route where raiders ambush caravans.
The biggest little city in the post-apocalyptic world. Ruled by warring mob families and flooded with casinos, chems, and guns.
๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services
๐ช Casinos, Services & Merchants
- ๐The Shark Club:
- Proprietor: ๐ญMr. John Bishop
- Services: Luxury casino, weapons-checked lounge, private mob executive suites.
- ๐The Silver Rush:
- Proprietor: [[Sylvia Van Graff]]
- Services: Laser rifles, plasma weapons, fusion cells.
- Crimson Caravan Depot:
- Proprietor: ๐ญSol Hernandez
- Services: Long-distance freight, caravan hiring, trade credit.
๐ฒ Outlying Landmarks & Sub-Locations
- ๐Golgotha Cemetery: Massive desert cemetery south of town managed by ๐ญLindy.
- Hidden Valley: A narrow rocky choke point south along the Virginia City trade route where raiders ambush caravans.
๐ฟ Golgotha Cemetery
Sprawling, sun-bleached desert cemetery south of New Reno where the city buries its dead, overseen by eccentric ghoul gravedigger ๐ญLindy.
Sprawling, sun-bleached desert cemetery south of New Reno where the city buries its dead, overseen by eccentric ghoul gravedigger ๐ญLindy.
๐๏ธ The Shark Club
Upscale casino and lounge in New Reno, serving as the executive headquarters and base of operations for โ๏ธThe Bishop Family and ๐ญMr. John Bishop. Weapons are strictly checked at the door.
Upscale casino and lounge in New Reno, serving as the executive headquarters and base of operations for โ๏ธThe Bishop Family and ๐ญMr. John Bishop. Weapons are strictly checked at the door.
๐๏ธ The Silver Rush
Heavily guarded high-tech energy weapon storefront in New Reno run by โ๏ธThe Van Graffs, dealing in laser rifles, plasma casters, and microfusion cells.
Heavily guarded high-tech energy weapon storefront in New Reno run by โ๏ธThe Van Graffs, dealing in laser rifles, plasma casters, and microfusion cells.
๐ฐ Virginia City
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere A historic mountain mining boomtown perched high in the hills east of Carson. Famous for pre-war silver mines, steep wooden boardwalks, and lurking subterranean terrors. Governed by the Mining Guild & Foreman. ๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services Comstock Silver Lode: Deep subterranean mining shafts extending miles under the mountain. The Bucket of Blood Saloon: Rough miner tavern, gambling tables, and bounty board.
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere
A historic mountain mining boomtown perched high in the hills east of Carson. Famous for pre-war silver mines, steep wooden boardwalks, and lurking subterranean terrors. Governed by the Mining Guild & Foreman.
๐๏ธ Points of Interest & Services
- Comstock Silver Lode: Deep subterranean mining shafts extending miles under the mountain.
- The Bucket of Blood Saloon: Rough miner tavern, gambling tables, and bounty board.
The hostile transition zone between the northern valleys and southern deserts, featuring fortified military depots like Hawthorne, heavily armed Boomer facilities like Arsenal, and deadly raider chokepoints like Gridlock.
The hostile transition zone between the northern valleys and southern deserts, featuring fortified military depots like Hawthorne, heavily armed Boomer facilities like Arsenal, and deadly raider chokepoints like Gridlock.
๐ก๏ธ Arsenal
Major Boulanger's fortified manufacturing and munitions staging facility, churning out heavy weapons for wasteland distribution.
Major Boulanger's fortified manufacturing and munitions staging facility, churning out heavy weapons for wasteland distribution.
A massive desert highway bottleneck created by miles of rusted, pre-war vehicle pileups converted into raider sniper towers. Controlled by territorial Highway Raiders.
A massive desert highway bottleneck created by miles of rusted, pre-war vehicle pileups converted into raider sniper towers. Controlled by territorial Highway Raiders.
Site of the massive pre-war Hawthorne Army Munitions Depot, surrounded by blast bunkers and fortified perimeter walls. Watched over by the Town Elder & Depot Scavengers.
Site of the massive pre-war Hawthorne Army Munitions Depot, surrounded by blast bunkers and fortified perimeter walls. Watched over by the Town Elder & Depot Scavengers.
๐ฒ The Mojave Wasteland
The sprawling southern wasteland stretching across Death Valley gateway settlements like Beatty down to the glittering neon oasis of New Vegas and Hoover Dam.
The sprawling southern wasteland stretching across Death Valley gateway settlements like Beatty down to the glittering neon oasis of New Vegas and Hoover Dam.
Gateway settlement to Death Valley and the western approaches to New Vegas. Local authority is maintained by the Beatty Town Marshal.
Gateway settlement to Death Valley and the western approaches to New Vegas. Local authority is maintained by the Beatty Town Marshal.
The crown jewel of the Mojave Wasteland, surrounded by Freeside, the Strip casinos, and the looming tension of Hoover Dam. Kept in check by Securitrons and the Three Families under Mr. House.
The crown jewel of the Mojave Wasteland, surrounded by Freeside, the Strip casinos, and the looming tension of Hoover Dam. Kept in check by Securitrons and the Three Families under Mr. House.
๐ฒ The Sierra Region
The alpine mountain range and evergreen basin encompassing Lake Tahoe, high mountain passes like Markleeville, and central valley crossroads like Silver Springs.
The alpine mountain range and evergreen basin encompassing Lake Tahoe, high mountain passes like Markleeville, and central valley crossroads like Silver Springs.
๐ฐ Markleeville
A remote high-altitude alpine settlement guarding mountain passes along Route 395. Local authority is governed by the Alpine Town Council.
A remote high-altitude alpine settlement guarding mountain passes along Route 395. Local authority is governed by the Alpine Town Council.
๐ฐ Silver Springs
Crossroads trade settlement along Route 95 connecting Tahoe to the central mining valleys. Governed by the Silver Springs Guild.
Crossroads trade settlement along Route 95 connecting Tahoe to the central mining valleys. Governed by the Silver Springs Guild.
๐ฒ Tahoe
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere A cold alpine lake basin surrounded by evergreen timber and pre-war lodge ruins. While picturesque, the region has become heavily militarized by MIM corporate security and lakeside salvage divers. Overseen by the Lakeside Settlers Council. ๐๏ธ Points of Interest, Settlements & POIs MIM Corporate Compound: Heavily fortified industrial center producing armaments and mining technology. Lakeside Docks & Sunken Relics: Scavenger docks offering diving apparatus and boat passage across Lake Tahoe.
๐บ๏ธ Description & Atmosphere
A cold alpine lake basin surrounded by evergreen timber and pre-war lodge ruins. While picturesque, the region has become heavily militarized by MIM corporate security and lakeside salvage divers. Overseen by the Lakeside Settlers Council.
๐๏ธ Points of Interest, Settlements & POIs
- MIM Corporate Compound: Heavily fortified industrial center producing armaments and mining technology.
- Lakeside Docks & Sunken Relics: Scavenger docks offering diving apparatus and boat passage across Lake Tahoe.