
The Golden Eagle.
Among the artifacts pursued by occultists and treasure hunters in the modern era is the Golden Eagle. There are more rumors and stories than solid facts known about the Golden Eagle. It is said that one of those linked to the Golden Eagle does not remain killed, that their soul would descend into Hell but return to their bodies and arise whole and alive in a few days, at least until the moment The Lord has determined for them to go…then they must have absolved themselves of any tie to it, lest they descend into Hell a final time. Other stories claim the user does not age, or does not fall to death regardless of wounds but, again, must absolve themselves of it before the time chosen for them comes.
Risky as that may be, some think the gamble is worth it. After all, an assassin’s bullet is no great risk should one be linked to the Eagle. And of course, some do not fear Hell, suggesting such a rumor is simply to frighten the weak minded. Some fear no hell, no Lord, but they know the Golden Eagle will restore them, good as new.
But where does it come from, the Golden Eagle? Many say the inside is like a clockwork device, places for seven souls to take it’s gamble. Some link it to Mithras, despite the lack of Eagles in his mythology. Other accounts say it was a personal possession of Saladin, built for him. Others say it was an ancient artifact of the Aryan Prussians, typical of the sort of things they could do in ancient times.
Older stories tie the Golden Eagle to the Crusades, especially those linking it to Saladin. These stories say Christian Crusaders found it in the Levant and smuggled it back to Europe. According to some of these claims the leaders of the Knights Templar were the first Western circle of men to use the Eagle. Later accounts place it at the Court of Louis XIV.
Recent rumor suggests connections to more recent events in the former Austria-Hungary. Some claimed Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary acquired it after threats to his wife the Empress Elisabeth, to protect her. But they say, she was too pious refused and lost her life. Many who knew Franz Josef say it was foolish, that he was too pious himself to use it. But what risks would even the pious take for love?
Others say, the Ladies Theosophical Society of Vienna desperately attempted to get the Golden Eagle to Archduke Franz Ferdinand before his fatal ride in Sarajevo. It is true they attempted to meet the Archduke, and that the leader of the society poisoned herself when he was killed before they could meet. But there was never any proof that the Theosophical Society ever had the Golden Eagle, just like it was never shown Franz Josef had it in his possession.
Still, whatever role it was to play, they say it could have ended the war, or perhaps even started it, if the Society was foiled. But to assume such a thing would be paranoid lunacy.
Still, the Golden Eagle is out there, and in 1920 it came into the hands of a group of figures from the mists of history. Sought after, searched for, possibly killed over, the artifact had a role to play in events after the embers of the Great War died out and a new order rose in Europe. This is the story of those who used the Golden Eagle, and sought to uncover its secrets.
This is the story of the Golden Eagle.
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What rises must fall, what has fallen may rise again
The Golden Eagle is a crossover game set in the Chronicles of Darkness. It is my first crossover campaign, having run Heavy Rain (With Zombies) and Malibu Scream House crossover one shots. The Golden Eagle takes place over a course of nearly 30 years, beginning in 1920 and (hopefully) extending to 1949.
Our Players had the whole Chronicles of Darkness setting laid before them to select their characters from. Vampire and Werewolf (and of course Demon) use the 2nd edition rules, others the 1st edition. However, all core systems, except XP, use the 2nd edition rules, such as combat and morality for mortals. Of the seven players, five are playing their monster type for the first time, at least in Chronicles of Darkness. All have experience with the Chronicles of Darkness, and The Golden Eagle draws upon players also in Beyond the Sea, Balance of Shadows, Malibu Dream House, and Night Train Detective Agency.
The cast are drawn together on Walpurgisnacht 1920 by the mysterious Jamal Ruhadze with a proposition; he knows the location of the recently stolen artifact called The Golden Eagle and knows how it works. He is willing to barter that knowledge and knowledge of how to use it if he can receive information from the PCs on exactly what it does and how it works. Then and only then can he get to the bottom of what the Golden Eagle is, and who created it. In a time of fallen empires and rising fascism, something like the Golden Eagle could prove valuable to anyone living in the world of Chronicles of Darkness.
And new, the roll call:
Alla Garin of Russia; Daeva of the Invictus, and her Ghoul Fenric. Alla #1, Alla #2, Fenric
Alla and Fenric were traveling freaks in a sideshow as an unusually tall woman and short man whose skill in showmanship attracted Alla's Sire. Her Sire helped set them up as Russian Nobles, which they lived well as until the Revolution. Fleeing Russia, they got by as Noble Exiles, playing on their showmanship and wit to remain part of the jet set. Alla generally feeds on older women, closer to her actual age, and both are flamboyant seducers.
Marek Ruzicka of Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic); Irraka of the Bone Shadows Marek Younger, Marek Younger #2, Marek Older
A former member of the Czechoslovak Legion, Marek and his brother survived being wounded and returned home. Marek because a courier, but his skills as sniper led to him being an assassin on the side. Of course, his brother could never know, so he operates under the alias “Reznick”. His recent transformation into an Uratha has proven helpful in both vocations.
Tatiana Varchenko of Russia; Rahu of the Iron Masters Tatiana
Tatiana went to war with her brother, joining the women’s battalion of the Russian army. She sought to protect her brother, but he was killed, not on the front line, but by the revolutionaries as Russia descended into chaos. Now she struggles both with her anger and her becoming Uratha.
Dearbháil MacGowan of Ireland; Fairest Minstrel/Windwing of the Spring Court Dearbháil Mien, Dearbháil Mask
Dearbháil was a young Irish woman who was taken by the Gentry and only recently escaped. With her return, she has become a singer of note. While she is Fairest, she yet has the element of songbird to her.
Dacian Umbră of Romania; Darkling Lurker/Larcenist of the Spring Court Dacian Mien, Dacian Mask
Dacian was taken from his home in Romania by the Gentry, and returned to a place that had been changed forever by war. Seeking a new identity, he became a gentleman thief. Seeking new knowlage and experience, he became well acquainted with the high life.
Lizette Étoile of France; Wizened Inventor/Gremlin of the Autumn Court and The Holy Order of the Third Hour Lizette Mien, Lizette Mask
Lizette was a simple village girl taken by the Gentry, she returned, a meter high and gnomelike to her home, to find it shelled and burned, her family and fetch killed. Soon enough, she turned on the German invaders who fought in the area, guilty or not. By the end, she was green, mischievous, and an expert in destroying technology. Without the war, she lost purpose. Currently she drifts across Paris seeking an outlet for her destructive talents.
Wolfram Johann Ritter von Klingemann of Germany; Forgotten Advocate Wolfram, The Firebrand Crusader
Wolfram was a German noble of a newer noble family who became an aviator in the Great War. When his plane was shot down he managed to survive the downing only to fall prey to bad luck. The Firebrand Crusader restored him, however, and now they go forth to provide the dead with what assistance they can, and to fight for what is right.
It is my intention to have two backgrounds for you Saturday, two more then next Saturday, then in about two weeks from Friday/Sat journals for session 1, then the next two the next weekend. Backgrounds are not due till session 2 for extra points, so we will see what is possible, I have 3 currently. The game will eventually settle into fortnightly updates.
Comments and Questions are always welcome in this thread.
Actual Play Starts Here
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