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You cannot know anything. Only suspect.
This article contains content from pre-release sources that may or may not be reflective of canon upon release. This article therefore likely contains spoilers.
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The Lost Jewel was a genetic memory.[1]
During the early stages of the Reign of Terror, while King Louis XVI and his family are held captive in the Square du Temple, a remarkable robbery takes place when the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne (the Royal Storehouse) is burgled by a gang of thieves. The thieves manage to steal most of the Crown Jewels in one of the largest thefts ever recorded, and in the following days, they organize a clandestine auction to resell their ill-gotten gains to the highest bidder.
Among the crown jewels stolen is a Piece of Eden, the Hope Diamond. The gem in question has extraordinary beauty and dimensions, but these peculiarities are obscured by a curse that afflicts its owners. Legend has it that whoever wears it eventually meets an unpleasant end. Through an informant, the Assassins have learned of the auction and of the Templars' interest in certain lots. They cannot let the Piece of Eden end up in Templar hands.
The mud squelches under your boots as you enter the slums of southern Paris. The silence is broken by barking dogs and the slurred cries of some drunk dragging his sodden form off to a gutter to sleep. Among these gloomy alleys, the revolutionary uprisings of the city seem to belong to another nation.
The hustle and bustle echoing around the corner signals that you have reached your destination, La Limace Noir, a popular dance hall. According to an informant, a clandestine auction is being held in the cellar of the crowded guinguette, and the Hope Diamond, a Piece of Eden with unknown powers, is up for sale. You must recover the diamond and keep it out of the greedy clutches of the Templars.
To access the cellars beneath La Limace Noir, the Witnesses might try several different approaches. At the main entrance of the guinguette, patrons are chatting and drinking, unaware of the shady activities that are unfolding below. The cellars have two entrances. The first entrance is accessible directly from the main hall, in plain sight and heavily guarded. The second is hidden in a drainage tunnel opening on the banks of the Seine, known only to Jean le Chien, manager of La Limace Noir and organizer of the auction. Four guards stand watch.
- Challenges
- Fake it Til You Make It: The Witnesses might trick the doorman at the entrance, convincing them that the Witnesses have every right to be at the auction. Any Approach check made requires 1 Raise.
- Yes, I Know Them!: The Witnesses might also locate someone in possession of a proper invitation to the auction and persuade them to vouch for them.
- Stealth Your Way In: A final possibility is to sneak inside unseen via the second entrance. It is imperative to distract the four thugs guarding the entrance. Any Approach check made to overcome this Challenge requires 2 Raises.
- Weaknesses
- I'm With the Brotherhood (major): Secret as it is, in some circles the Assassin Brotherhood is a name whispered with awe and respect. Identifying themselves brazenly as members of the Brotherhood is a decidedly risky move, but it may work. However, Templars also are present at the event, and the fact that one or more Assassins are openly participating in the auction would immediately alert them. In this case, the Witnesses trigger the We Were Waiting for You Setback automatically.
At the end of the auction, all the precious items are placed inside a wooden crate located in a strongroom at the back of the cellars, until payment is made. Since the Assassin Brotherhood cannot afford to pay for the Hope Diamond, the Witnesses must find another way to obtain the jewel.
- Challenges
- Jean le Chien: Many eyes are focused on the cellars tonight, and remaining unnoticed is even more difficult than entering. Jean le Chien is keen to get to know each person inside his lair, especially those new to him.
- Guards: 4 thugs guard the entrance to the strongroom. They received specific and thorough orders: "No one is allowed to enter here". Any Social check made to overcome this Challenge requires 2 Raises.
- Templars: The biggest threat is represented by the Templars led by Justine Delarue. 4 Templars accompany Justine inside the cellars, while an equal number wait outside. Should the Witnesses face them openly, they automatically trigger the We Were Waiting for You Setback.
- Weaknesses
- Fire up! (minor): Using candles and oil lamps for lighting in the cellar creates a highly hazardous situation in the event of a fire. The cellar's natural dampness would swiftly lead to the space being inundated with smoke, severely limiting visibility and making breathing difficult. This would undoubtedly lead to widespread confusion. Consequently, concealing tracks and hiding within the cellars becomes relatively easy. On the other hand, all Wits checks require 1 additional Raise.
A man of many talents, Jean has built a reputation as a reliable person within the Parisian criminal underworld. Expert in smuggling, fencing, and the occasional burglary, he runs a guinguette called La Limace Noir as a front for his illicit activities.
The youngest daughter of a disgraced French nobleman, Justine was adopted at a young age by a Master Templar who shaped her into a hammer ready to crush the Assassins. Trained to anticipate the Brotherhood's techniques and skilled at exploiting its weaknesses, she never hesitates. She is a fearsome foe for any Assassin.
Known Owners: Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Louis XIV, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Jean le Chien
Current Status: Unknown
The history of this massive diamond is surrounded in mystery. The first known buyer was Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. The stone, also called French Blue (Le bleu de France), was sold to King Louis XIV of France in 1668. In 1792, during the French Revolution, the Hope Diamond was stolen from the royal treasury, alongside the other French Crown Jewels.
This Piece of Eden possesses unknown powers and abilities but is said to carry a curse, leading to an early, violent death for anyone wearing it.
