The Golden Age of Man

This is a relatively short espionage adventure. The characters are asked to smuggle some contraband from the Golden Age of Man into the Coalition States and return with a box of cigars. In the course of this adventure they should get an introduction to the burbs of Chi Town and to the organization of St. Vincent Millay even if they never find out they are dealing with that organization.
This should also serve to reinforce the ongoing escalation of conflict between Tolkeen and the Coalition and help to set the background tension of the world.

Structure

Exposition

In some medium sized settlement, the party will see an advertisement for anyone going near Chi-town to contact Shem the explorer. If the party is well enough known or stands out in some way, Shem may actually approach them with the job directly.
He will give them a stack of books he discovered during his explorations and ask them to deliver the books to a collector in the Chi Town 'burbs. The books are:

• On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
• Algebra and Trigonometry by Robert F. Blitzer

Shem is what the Coalition calls a "rogue scholar." He is working for this collector and has a standing contract to deliver any books he finds. But as a "rogue scholar"and a known book smuggler, he can't make the trip himself. He will pay the characters 100 credits each for the trip and the collector will pay them 1000 each plus 10% the value of each book when delivered. He will also pay them 1000 credits plus expenses if they bring a case of Harvey's Cigars back with them. He will even give them an additional 100 credits each if they can return in under ten days.

Conflict

Books are illegal in the Coalition States and will be confiscated and destroyed if discovered. Anyone carrying a book will be put on a blacklist. Anyone known to be smuggling books will be banished from Coalition Territory and will have their credit accounts confiscated. Anyone found to be a repeated smuggler of books will be sent to forced labor camp for life.
The Coalition domestic security forces contain mind-reading psychics who are quick to identify anyone who is trying to hide something.

Rising Action

First, the characters will have to figure out how to get the books past the Coalition security forces.

Climax

A group of thugs will try to get the books from the characters after they enter the meeting place with the collector.

Falling Action

The characters will collect the case of cigars and return to Shem. They will be followed and watched much of the way.
Since forces of both Tolkeen and the Coalition are shadowing the party, it is possible the two forces will attempt to assassinate each other. At the GM's discretion the party can stumble upon such a conflict or the evidence of it. I recommend at least that they see the evidence of it if they are slow to realize their own role in this whole affair.
Once the characters are outside coalition territory, neither the coalition security forces nor the Tolkeen spies will care if the party lives or dies, since the cigars are all that matter at that point. Both sets of spies need the information to get into the hands of the Tolkeen spies and will make sure that happens, one way or another.

Resolution

Deliver the cigars to Shem.
If it came up that the robbers were after the books, that means there was a leak somewhere in Vincent Millay's organization. If the characters end up with a good reputation with Nancy Boyd, she may rely on them now or in the future to help hunt the leak.

Components

Goals

Books are illegal in the Coalition. The players must figure out how to get them past any existing security and to the collector. The collector will go by the alias Wallace Stevens and will meet the players at a place called the Upstart Lounge. They are to ask their server how many ways there are of looking at a black bird. The reply shall be thirteen.
The players are also requested to return to Shem with a case of cigars from Harvey the Roller.

Moral Quandaries

There is a very good chance the books will be discovered and confiscated. However, if this happens and the party follows through with their meet with Wallace Stevens, they will be informed that the books have, in fact, been recovered. The collector will only reimburse them half their fee since the other half went towards paying the coalition forces who actually delivered them.
If the players choose to not meet with the collector after the books are confiscated, they will forfeit any fees and this will probably sour their reputation with Nancy Boyd. However, they should still be eligible for the special case of cigars.
If the players prevent the books from being confiscated, but find out about the Librarian and try to sell the books to her instead, she will offer no more than the same amount and the characters will be marked as untrustworthy by Nancy Boyd. She will not give away any indication that she, the Librarian, is the collector since this would be a good opportunity to make such an untrustworthy party think they are different people.

Cruel Tricks

While Shem is working for the collector, his real motivation is to use the PC party as unwitting mules for transporting the cigars past the mind-reading psionic agents of the coalition. The cigars are doctored to contain secrets stolen from the Coalition. Agents of Tolkeen will be watching the party while they are in the 'burbs and throughout their jouney back out of Coalition territory (from afar)
The coalition is aware of this means of trafficking and their agents have replaced the data in the cigars with disinformation. As a result, the Coalition forces are content to also just observe.

Red Herrings

The books are themselves a red herring. It does not matter whether the players succeed in delivering the books to the collector or not. It only matters that they they bring "The Catcher in the Rye" to the 'burbs. Whomever does that is marked as the intended recipient of the special case of cigars waiting for them at Harvey the Roller's place.
During the meet at The Upstart Lounge, a well-armed group of thugs tries to rob the place. They will go in after the party does, secure the entry and demand eveyone give over what they have. Apparently it has slipped that the people carrying those books are selling secrets. The robbers want to get their hands on the books so they can sell them to the highest bidder(s). This will become known as the encounter with the robbers pans out. Probably. Like the robbers, the players may erroneously come to the conclusion that the books contain secrets. But the truth is that those are just normal books and contain no secrets other than the lost thoughts on their pages from the golden age of man.

Relations

Allies

• Shem. Wants to hire the player characters to deliver books and return with cigars. Secretly works for Tolkeen.
• Wallace Stevens. Agent for the collector.
• The Collector. (a.k.a. The Librarian, a.k.a. Nancy Boyd) Will probably not make an appearance for this adventure, but is willing to work with the party in the future and may eventually meet them, so this adventure could be the start of a good relationship.

Neutrals/Bystanders

Harvey the Roller Has a case of special cigars set aside especially for the party. They were identified by the books they delivered, but Harvey doesn't know that. He only knows that these cigars he made with the special data hairs in them are for this party. This is just one of many such special orders Harvey prepares on a regular basis for Vincent Millay and others.

Competitors

An unnamed group of thugs picks a poor time to hold up the eatery. They will want to inspect all customers for valuables as well.

Adversaries

The Coalition views books as contraband and police and security forces will confiscate them if discovered. Psionically adept security forces man all the customs outposts and have a good chance of detecting anyone bringing contraband into coalition areas.

Backdrops

Locations

• Chi Town burbs
• The Upstart Lounge
• Harvey the Roller

Past Events

This adventure is set among the backdrop of rising tensions between the Coalition and Tolkeen. It can be a good introduction to the Chitown burbs.
The Chi town 'burbs are full of the unwashed masses fleeing the dangers of the world for the safety and security provided by the Coalition. Discontent is rife as people expecting safety and security are greeted with poverty, overpopulation and crime. This discontent fuels hostility and is a breeding ground for rebellious ideas and acts.

Plot type

This is a single adventure.