Quest 023: Blood in the Amber

Classification: A-Class
Type: Gather Intelligence
Status: Open

Contract Summary

Benefactor: Anonymous Intermediary (payment via dead drop)
Compensation: Excessive (800 ceramic pieces)
Stated Danger: High casualties likely (7)
Location: Kalidnay, specifically the Temple District

Mission Briefing

The Job

An anonymous benefactor seeks detailed intelligence on the inner workings of Ka-Tet's templar order. Specifically, they want documentation of:

• The hierarchy of Ka-Tet's templars
• Any evidence of internal factionalism or dissent
• The nature and frequency of "offerings" made to Ka-Tet
• Defensive capabilities and routines of the Temple of the Amber Sun

Intelligence Objectives

1. Primary: Compile a detailed organizational report on Ka-Tet's templar structure
2. Secondary: Obtain physical evidence (documents, artifacts, testimony) of templar activities
3. Tertiary: Identify any templars who might be susceptible to... external influence

Operational Parameters

• Infiltration methodology is at team discretion
• No direct action against Ka-Tet or her immediate court
• Extraction must leave no evidence of guild involvement
• If compromised, the team is disavowed

Client Terms

• Payment upon delivery of actionable intelligence
• Half payment for partial intelligence with corroborating evidence
• No payment if team is captured or traced

Known Complications

• Kalidnay's templars are all psionic; surface thoughts are routinely scanned
• The Temple of the Amber Sun is warded against unauthorized entry
• Ka-Tet herself is said to possess god-like awareness within her city
• Discovery means death or worse—Kalidnay's dungeons are legendary

Guild Assessment

Recommended Team Size: 2-3 members (small team preferred)
Required Skills: Infiltration, psionic shielding, social engineering, Kalidnayan cultural fluency
Estimated Duration: 21-30 days undercover
Special Requirement: Guildmaster approval required; plausible deniability mandatory

DM Notes (Hidden)

Benefactor True Nature: Foreign intelligence agent (Hamanu of Urik seeks Ka-Tet's weaknesses)
Trustworthiness: Outright lying (they want this intelligence to plan an invasion; "external influence" means assassination targets)
Moral Axis: Exploitative but legal / Excessive pay
Actual Danger: +1 (multiple counter-intelligence operations are active)