THE SKEIN OF THE

BLACKBONE BRIDE
BY SHANNA GERMAIN
 INTRODUCTION

Stirthal, page 155 BRIEF SUMMARY Themoal offered the Seskiis 600 shins (or
The Slying Seskiis is a small group of the equivalent amount in artifacts, cyphers,
Malevich, page 154
mercenaries that is quickly gaining a and equipment) and the promise of her
Neverlost, page 156 reputation as one of the most competent future patronage if they would bring her
find-and-retrieve companies in Stirthal, one daughter’s body back in one piece. Lerg, not
Credits of the biggest cities in the Steadfast. Run by surprisingly, said yes and sealed that deal
Writer/Designer a shrewd but fair former member of The Grey with a signed contract and half of the money
Shanna Germain
Company named Lerg, the group boasts a up front. Then he gathered a crew of his
Creative Director
Monte Cook
motto of “no cypher unturned,” and claims employees and sent them off to track down
Managing Editor its members can hunt down, break down, or and recover the Bride’s body.
Dennis Detwiller recover anything or anyone from anywhere. Thus, the player characters enter the
Proofreader While some argue that the egos of the story. They are the members of the company
Ray Vallese
company members are starting to overtake chosen by Lerg to go on this mission and are
Cover Artist
Dreamstime.com their common sense, it seems others find already on their way to accomplish this quick
Graphic Designer the Slying Seskiis worth their salt. Recently, and easy job and return to the comforts of
Bear Weiter
the company was awarded the coveted Most home (and their share of the shins). They
Cartographer
Christopher West Reliable Business in Stirthal plaque and their have a map drawn by Themoal and the
Artists reputation has begun to spread, bringing new signed contract, which Themoal assured
Dreamstime.com, Guido Kuip, work from around the kingdom of Malevich. them was all they need to take ownership of
Eric Lofgren, Matt Stawicki, Ben
Wootten, Kieran Yanner Their newest job is, in fact, from the castle the body and bring it back to Neverlost. They
Monte Cook Games of Neverlost, a large castle and surrounding also have a transdimensional carryall given
Editorial Board
Scott C. Bourgeois, David town to the northwest of Stirthal. The to them by Lerg to bring the body back in.
Wilson Brown, Eric Coates, patron—a middle-aged woman with regal
Gareth Hodges, Mila Irek,
Jeremy Land, Laura Wilkinson, bearing and silvery hair called Angren
Marina Wold, George Ziets
Themoal—came to them recently saying
As we agree with the growing consensus
that “they” can and should be used as a her daughter had died and asking them
gender-neutral, singular English language
pronoun when one is needed, we have to retrieve the body and bring it home to
adopted that as the style in our products.
If you see this grammatical construction, it the castle for a proper lay-to-rest. While at This adventure includes page references
is intentional.
first this seemed like a job that the Slying to various subjects accompanied by
Seskiis would be overqualified for, Themoal this symbol. These references are to
quickly explained the rest of the story: that the Numenera corebook, where you
her “daughter” is actually an automaton, can find additional details about that
a construct built for her long ago after her item, place, creature, or concept. It isn’t
© 2016 Monte Cook Games, LLC human daughter passed away. Although she necessary to look up the referenced
Numenera and its logo are hasn’t seen her “daughter” in years, she items in the corebook; doing so is an
trademarks of Monte Cook
knows that she’s living in Scosik, a town optional way to learn more about the
Games, LLC in the U.S.A. and
other countries. All Monte deep within the Black Riage, because they’ve Ninth World and provide additional
Cook Games characters and
character names, and the maintain contact via telepathy. Themoal has information to your players.
distinctive likenesses thereof, been sending supplies and money to her
are trademarks of Monte Cook
Games, LLC. over the years.

2
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

Transdimensional Carryall: This device

looks like a simple bag, but its opening This adventure is designed to be played
connects to a pocket of extradimensional at a convention or other scenario with The Grey Company is
space. One nonliving object can be put inside, around a four-hour time slot. Thus, a group of mercenaries,
and the space will stretch to fit that object (up you’ll notice sections about keeping mostly brigands and
bounty hunters, who
to 10 feet by 10 feet [3 m by 3 m]). Placing an track of time or hurrying things along. track down targets and
object in the carryall causes the opening to Feel free to ignore these and move at eliminate them for pay.
shut until the user takes an action to open it. your own pace if you’re playing without
While the carryall holds an object, it cannot a time limit.
be opened by anyone except the person who
placed the object inside it. The carryall’s
weight is unchanged regardless of the weight When the characters arrive at the
of the object placed in the pocket. When the Blackbone Bride’s “final” resting place in
user removes the object from the carryall, the the city of Scosik, they begin to uncover
carryall collapses and becomes a regular bag. additional truths about the Bride:
She is worshipped (and now mourned) by
the villagers for helping them in their time of
SYNOPSIS need and giving them a safe place to live.
The adventure begins while the characters She used her telepathic abilities to interact
are en route to find and retrieve the with many people the same way she did with
automaton known as the Blackbone Bride. Themoal, convincing them that she was their
They’re deep in the mountain range called bride or daughter or friend and asking them
the Black Riage, but the trip so far has been to send supplies to Scosik. When she “died,”
relatively easy—lots of fair weather, few that telepathic connection was broken.
dangerous predators, and even Themoal’s The villagers are in mourning due to more
hand-drawn map has been easy to follow. than just the Bride’s death. Someone has
As the characters head down the mountain stolen the Bride’s body from them, even
pass, around what they believe is about a though she belongs in the village with them,
day’s walk from the village where they’re where they may honor her even after death.
heading, they come upon a trailside synth The body has, in fact, been taken by
shelter that seems to have been abandoned, members of the Convergence, who will likely Convergence, page 223
as there are belongings here and there about destroy it in an attempt to use the parts for
the camp. Among the items, the players other devices. In order to retrieve the body
discover a contract similar to their own, and in a single piece, the PCs must quickly track
it likely doesn’t take long for them to realize down the Convergence members and get the
that the camp was made by another group body back from them.
who came not too long ago also searching If they can accomplish that, they must make
for the Bride’s body. a choice: who does the Bride’s body truly
While they’re there, a traveler suddenly belong to? Their patron, her worshippers,
seems to appear by coming up out of the Convergence, or perhaps themselves?
the ground. If the PCs talk to him, they’ll This is the emotional crux of the adventure,
discover he has information about a shorter, and playing up the responses of the various
quicker—albeit possibly more dangerous— groups will make the characters’ decision
route to their destination. more meaningful. They should feel torn

There are many ways this scenario can play out, because the choices that the PCs
make can have a big impact on what happens next and affect what information
gets revealed when. The essence of this adventure is one of unraveling a series of
complications and confusions to try to get to the truth, which then forces the players
to make a tough decision.

3
between the respect and money afforded has “died.” The weirdest thing about the
by their position in the Slying Seskiis, the body is that it has six different heads, each
gratitude and trust offered by the Bride’s of which looks like a unique person, not all
worshippers, and perhaps even by the of which are female. The heads were clearly
promises of the Convergence members. designed to be easily attached and detached
at the neck. No one seems to know who built
the Blackbone Bride or for what purpose.
BACKGROUND Those who knew her will say it’s something
that she never talked about.
THE SLYING SESKIIS Background: The Blackbone Bride
The Slying Seskiis are good at what they essentially built the village of Scosik. Not the
do. All of these characters are competent, buildings themselves—they were built by
in their own way, and have a good deal of the residents under her guidance—but she
experience. Most of them have known each possessed a form of telepathy that allowed
other a long time, and so have a tangled her to interact with people at great distance.
history between them. So over time, she called people to the village,
Each of the Seskiis has a nickname, people who needed a place to stay or recover,
given to them during their first job with the people who needed safety or succor. In
company. Most of the time, the Seskiis use addition, she reached out to those who had
these nicknames rather than real names. lots to give—including Angren Themoal—
If a Seskii uses the real name of another mentally convincing them that she was their
member, it’s a signal to the others that some child or bride or brother and encouraging
kind of danger is afoot. At this point, only them to send supplies and money to her
Kerus does not have a nickname, as this is in Scosik. She used her different heads to
their first job with the Seskiis. It is likely that create these different personas. When she
they will have one by the time the adventure died, those she had mentally formed bonds
is complete. with felt the loss of that connection, and
assumed (correctly) that she was dead.
THE BLACKBONE BRIDE
Appearance: The body of the Blackbone
Bride has a shape similar to a very tall THE CONVERGENCE
human, about 7 feet (2 m) tall, although The Convergence is a group in the Ninth
it’s clear at a glance that it isn’t human World that reveres the knowledge of the past.
because it is built of black metal, synth, and However, unlike the Aeon Priests, who strive
a rubberlike material. The body doesn’t give to use that knowledge for the greater good,
any sense of gender. In the center of the Convergence members use it to grant power
Bride’s chest is a yellow orb that seems like it only to themselves. They tend to be ruthless,
was once filled with something, but which is and are willing to use coercion, deceit, and
now broken open and empty; thus the Bride violence to get what they want.

4
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

FINDING THE
BLACKBONE BRIDE
BEGINNING THE SCENARIO The players should also decide who is
Go over the rules of the game with the carrying the map, the signed contract, and
players very briefly. This review should take the transdimensional carryall.
no more than ten or twenty minutes.
Give the players a chance to get acquainted
with their characters, and with each other.
Remind them that these characters have
known each other a fair amount of time and
have likely worked together on multiple jobs,
so they’re familiar with each other’s skills and
personalities. Ask each of them to quickly
share the reason behind their nickname (for
those who have one). This shouldn’t take
more than ten minutes or so.
Relay the details of the job to them. You
can explain it in detail, or read the following
passage, which contains all of the information
that is important for the characters to know:

Your current job is from the ruler of the castle

of Neverlost, a woman with bearing and silvery
hair called Angren Themoal. She has hired the
Slying Seskiis to retrieve the body of her recently
deceased daughter and bring it home to the castle
for a proper lay-to-rest. At first this seemed like a
kind of ho-hum job for someone of your skills and
experience, but once Themoal explained that her
“daughter”—who called herself the Blackbone
Bride—is actually an automaton, a construct
built for her long ago after her human daughter
died, it became more interesting. Themoal
and her daughter regularly communicated via
telepathy, so she knows the Bride has been living
in Scosik, a town deep within the Black Riage.
Over the years, Themoal sent supplies and money
to her daughter and the town. She has promised
to pay 600 shins if you return her daughter’s body
back in one piece (half of which will go to the
leader of your group, Lerg, and the other half of
which will be split among you).

5
 THE TRAILSIDE SHELTER who has hired a competing group—Elisio’s
The action begins when the PCs are about Mercenaries—to retrieve the body.
halfway through the Black Riage, having The important part of the scroll is the
taken the fairly accessible pass known as the discovery that others are also attempting
Garl Nave, page 177 Garl Nave. It’s early summer and the weather to retrieve the body of the Bride. This is the
is just beginning to turn warm, although players’ first clue that there is something
nights in the pass are still quite chilly. This unusual going on with the Bride.
section of the mountain pass has little in the There is also a campfire ring and, just a
way of vegetation—it seems to be mostly ways off from it, a long, thin patch of large
sharp grey rock with a bit of odd purple (6 inches [15 cm] across) purple flowers
moss, but there are a few stunted trees that snake around in the shape of a loop or
here and there. Small lizards and rodents tendril. There are about a dozen flowers in
occasionally scamper about the rocks, but total, and they all have dark purple petals and
for the most part, it’s been fairly uneventful. white centers. Both the flowers and their petals
Just as evening begins to fall, the players feel waxy and stiff, almost as if they aren’t real.
come upon a trailside shelter, just off the (With their training in botany, Kerus will know
Synth shelter: level 3 side of the trail. The shelter’s comprised of a that these flowers are called lahines. Mur won’t
temporary square structure made of synth, know the official name, but will know that
Lahine: level 4
just big enough for four or five people to take these flowers are considered to be a good luck
cover inside. The entirety of one side is open. charm if you pluck off a single petal and put it
The other three walls and the roof are made in your boot.)
of dark grey synth, almost camouflaging the
shelter among the rocks. The camp seems SUDDEN TRAVELER
to have been abandoned, and there are a At some point while the PCs are at the
number of items that have been left behind. shelter, a man suddenly appears just a few
There are no signs of any kind of struggle, feet away from the campsite, right where the
and almost everything is carefully folded and lahines are. To anyone watching, it seems
put away. But it’s clear that the items have as if he was pushed up out of the ground,
been there for at least a few days, maybe although the ground doesn’t appear to have
longer. moved, nor does he seem surprised to find
The items include: himself standing there in the middle of
Adhesion clamps: level • A metal box that holds adhesion clamps, the camp. The traveler, named Fanell, says
4 handles with powerful a pack of matches, and a glowglobe he’s just arrived by using what he calls the
suction cups that allow
for automatic climbing
• A pack that contains a long red scarf and tendrils.
of any surface. Lasts for six arrows Fanell: Fanell looks like a man who has
twenty minutes. • Just inside the shelter there is a knife with spent his life traveling the roads of the
a chipped blade. That’s the only item that world. He is of average height, middle-aged,
Fanell: level 4, geography
as level 5 seems out of place, as if it was dropped and in good health. He wears a form-fitted
by accident. pocketed coverall that stops at the knees
• A long blue leather coat (medium armor) and elbows, and shows off the strength of
Glowglobe, page 82 that has a long tear in the arm. It has his legs and forearms. It’s clear that he’s a
a number of pockets. The majority of bit vain about his appearance, although he
the pockets are empty, but one interior doesn’t say anything directly to that effect.
pocket holds a small scroll tied with black Fanell is inquisitive, and is likely to ask more
ribbon. questions than he is to reveal too much
about himself.
The Scroll: Inside the scroll is a signed If the PCs ask, Fanell will say that he came
contract regarding the return of the through the tendrils to this place from a wide
Blackbone Bride that is nearly identical to valley. He has never heard of anyone called
the one that the Slying Seskiis signed with the Blackbone Bride, but if the PCs show him
Angren Themoal. Except that this one states the map of where they are headed, he will
that the Blackbone Bride is, in fact, the say he thinks that’s the valley where he just
actual bride of someone named Salwith, came from.

6
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

Fanell doesn’t seem to know, or even care, catch a ship going out to sea. (Fanell will sit
too much about the tendrils. If anything, his and talk with the characters briefly if they
attitude is mild surprise that the PCs don’t invite him, but won’t wait around too long,
know about it, but mostly just a sense that as it’s clear that he wants to get moving to Tendrils: level 4 to figure
there are all kinds of weird ways to travel the next place.) out the order in which to
push the “buttons” (in
around the world, and this is just one of the The characters may decide to take the
fact, only the last one
many. But if the characters ask, he’ll take a few tendrils or to walk the rest of the way. In needs to be pushed)
minutes to tell them everything he knows. order to use the tendrils, they must wait until
The Tendrils: The tendrils seem to be morning for the sun (artificial light won’t
a means of travel that requires a keen work), but if they’re going to walk, they could
understanding of geography and botany leave at any time. If the characters opt to
keep a watch during the
more than anything else. First, you must
night, it’s possible that
spot the lahine tendril. While lahines grow MORNING VISITORS someone could notice the
in many places, only a few grow in this color The night passes uneventfully, but in the steel spider building its
and in this type of pattern. These are the only morning when the PCs rise, they might web and raise the alarm
before morning. However,
ones that allow you access to the tendrils. In notice that the open side of the synth shelter spotting it is a level 6
order to use the tendrils, wait until sunlight is covered with a delicate and ornate pattern perception task due to
is falling on the patch, and then push the of webs made of metal. These webs are not low light and the spider’s
white center “buttons” in the proper order. sticky—they are razor sharp and easily cut experience with this
particular setup.
If you do that, you will be teleported to the through any material (including flesh) lower
next nearest lahine patch. This patch, where than level 5, inflicting 4 points of damage. It seems likely that the
Fanell has come from, is very close to the The strands are so thin that it’s easy to walk owners of the scroll might
also have met these steel
place the characters want to go. into them by accident. An Intellect task (level
spiders during their stay
Fanell says he’s never sure how long it 3) is needed to see them in time. Severing here. Whether they made
takes to get from one place to another by a web requires at least 2 points of damage it out alive isn’t possible
using the tendrils. For example, he left the from an energy attack or from a blade that for the players to discern
(spoiler: they didn’t).
last patch this morning, but now it is evening does at least 4 points of damage.
when he is arriving. Sometimes, though, he In the very corner of the web are two steel Steel spider: level 3,
says it seems to take no time at all. In fact, spiders. Steel spiders are creatures of living balances and climbs as
level 6; health 9; Armor 2
he says that he was hoping to arrive here this metal that spin incredibly thin webs also
morning, so he won’t stay the night, but will made of metal. One spider is about the
be on his way soon, as he’s hoping to reach size of a human head. The other is slightly Steel spider, page 260
the ocean shore in just a few days’ time to smaller.

7
 If any of the players try to damage the speak or react in any way, as time stretches
web, the spiders move in to attack the and stretches, and then stops, suspending
nearest ones with their bite. The creature’s them there for what feels like an eternity,
spinnerets are in its mouth, and a bite before they suddenly find themselves in a
injects a victim with the metallic strands. completely new space. To those watching,
Victims who fail a Might defense roll take 4 however, the teleportation appears
points of Speed damage that ignore Armor instantaneous—their friend is there one
as their muscles and tendons are torn apart second and gone in the next.
by the invasive injection. This damage is in The shimmering lasts about five minutes
addition to the normal 3 points of damage before it disappears. It’s possible to reopen
from the bite. the tendrils, but each time requires a new
GM intrusion suggestion: Drawn by the combination and is one step more difficult
noise of the scuffle, a third steel spider than the last.
lowers itself from a nearby outcropping of Taking the Trail: Characters may choose to
rock and begins to head toward one of the continue on the trail, rather than take the risk
characters outside of the shelter. of the tendrils (or they may fail to activate
the teleportation device). Continuing on the
TRAVELING TO SCOSIK trail takes the characters about eight hours
Taking the Tendrils: While the sun is shining of walking.
Tendrils: level 4 to figure on the tendrils (probably the next morning),
out the order in which to if the characters push the buttons in the
push the “buttons” TIME CONTROL
proper order, they will see the flowers, soil,
and grass in the area (a circle about 8 feet The players might exhibit a desire to
[2 m] in diameter) start to shimmer and dawdle at the shelter. If the PCs are
fade in and out. It will do this for about getting bogged down, try to keep things
a minute. As long as a character is in the moving. There should still be about
shimmering area within that time, they will three hours of playing time left (out
be teleported with the others to the closest of the four hours allotted) when the
lahine patch. The teleportation doesn’t feel characters arrive in Blackbone Valley.
instantaneous—in fact, the characters may If there are more than three hours left,
feel the exact opposite, as they wait and consider adding in the optional hontri
wait on the patch. They can see everything encounter upon the players’ arrival.
around them, but are unable to move or

8
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

BLACKBONE VALLEY AND SCOSIK

THE VILLAGE OF SCOSIK The village’s centerpiece is a tall, thin
Whether arriving via the tendrils or the trail, building made of smooth grey synth. Around
the characters will find themselves in a long, it are a number of smaller buildings, all
green valley, around late afternoon. It’s clear made of the same material. A shallow
that the valley is located deep in the Black indentation 1 foot (30 cm) deep, almost like Indentation: level 4;
Riage—it’s possible to see the mountain a moat, wraps around the city in a circle. touching the wires inside
it produces a mental
range on both sides—and yet, here is a It’s about 6 inches (15 cm) wide and is filled image of a face of the
clear, flat place full of greenery and sweeping with braided wires. This is one of the Bride’s Blackbone Bride. Only the
vistas. Tall, jagged stones rise up out of the defense mechanisms. It isn’t designed to person touching the wires
valley on either side of it. And in the very keep people out, but rather to keep them sees it, and each person
who touches the wires
middle of the deepest, flattest point of the in, so it’s likely that the characters won’t likely sees a different face.
valley is the small village of Scosik. notice much of an effect entering the city Also inflicts 1 point of
If the characters arrive from the trail, they (unless they touch the wires). However, as Intellect damage.
are at the southernmost end of the valley, soon as the characters step back outside of
about an hour’s walk from Scosik. If they the indentation around the city, any of them
arrive via the tendrils, they are deposited who fail a level 4 Intellect defense roll feel
just a few hundred feet from the edge of the dizzy and light-headed. The effect lasts for
village. ten minutes, and increases the difficulty of
all Intellect actions by one step during that
OPTIONAL ENCOUNTER: HONTRI time.
As the players enter the valley, they may have GM intrusion suggestion: As the
the bad luck to be spotted by a hontri, a characters near the village, one or more of
massive bird of prey that has been altered by them step on a soft bit of ground, disturbing
nanomachines. The hontri will sweep down a group of a dozen caffa larva. These grubs Caffa: level 1, defense
upon the group with a sudden swoop attack are voracious carnivores that instantly try as level 2 due to size;
health 3; inflicts 2 points
as they cross the valley. to latch on to the character’s legs and begin of damage. Their saliva
feasting. (This could be an individual or also injects a numbing
HONTRI 5 (15) group intrusion, depending on how the GM chemical that makes
Health: 22 wants to play it.) the bites painless, but a
victim might feel sluggish
Damage Inflicted: 5 points As the characters cross the indentation, in that particular limb.
Armor: 1 they notice that the village almost looks Once the larva are pulled
Modifications: Perception as level 7 uninhabited, as there are no objects, off the limb, there is no
lasting effect.
Combat: As raptors, hontris spy prey from animals, or even signs of life at first glance.
high above and swoop down at incredible There are a number of buildings, most of
speeds, raking with their powerful talons. which look like homes. They are nondescript,
When using this swoop attack, they but solid and well maintained. Weirdly, there
deal 2 additional points of damage. The isn’t any sign of livestock, farming, or any
nanites in their flesh and blood primarily other type of sustenance. There is an odd
exist as repairing machines. A living murmuring sound coming from the tall, thin
hontri regenerates 2 points of building in the middle, however.
damage each round. If the characters explore the village, they
will find almost all of the buildings empty.
Currently, only the building in the middle is
inhabited. About 50 people of all ages are
inside the building, down on their
knees around a large pedestal
in the middle of the room. They
are all wearing garlands on their
heads, made of wire and bits of metal,
synth, and broken devices. Many also wear
one or more bright yellow circles painted
somewhere upon their clothing or body,

9
 often on their chest, but sometimes on their will not go with the characters, as he believes
face or arms. the Bride would have wanted him to stay and
It’s quickly clear that the pedestal, which is look after the villagers.
very ornate and covered with idols, flowers, He says that if the characters bring the
and other offerings, was made to hold body of the Bride back so that they may
the body of the Bride after her death. The place her upon the eternal pedestal, the
pedestal is also covered with drawings and entire village will be eternally grateful and he
paintings of what is clearly the Blackbone personally will reward them with amazing
Bride, wearing various heads. Some show devices created by the Bride’s own hands.
her wearing one head and holding other He will proudly tell them all about how
heads in her hands. the Bride cared for the village by creating
If the PCs join the mourning villagers in telepathic relationships with external
silence, they will likely be welcomed and the providers.
Taial: level 3, Intellect residents will make room for them. If the A short, stout woman named Taial says
defense as level 2 PCs draw weapons or make some other sign that all of these people here have come to
of aggression, they will be met with hostility Scosik because of the Bride, who used her
by a few of the mourners (at least at first). mind to reach out and find them, to rescue
Most of the residents do not break their them. They were all dying or in trouble, and
mourning to interact with the newcomers, she saved all of them. And that, Taial will
but a few will talk with the characters if they say, is why they worshipped her. Because
are not hostile. she was worthy of being worshipped. Taial is
Maddester: level 4, Maddester is young, and is quick to attack distraught, and likely to repeat herself.
detecting lies, trickery, if the characters draw weapons or otherwise GM tip: If the players are low on cyphers at
and deceit as level
3, knowledge of the
show signs of being hostile or even this point, you might have Overu offer some
numenera as level 2; disrespectful. If the characters interact with to them from the Bride’s personal cache.
carries a pole arm him in a positive way, he says that it was his While he doesn’t really understand cyphers
job to watch over the body of the Blackbone or how they work, he understands that they
Bride after she died, but someone came in can be useful. He offers the following:
and stole it away, right under his nose. He • Sleep inducer: level 5 ring; touch puts
swears he didn’t fall asleep or turn away, and the victim to sleep for ten minutes or
he can’t understand how it happened. He until awoken by a violent action or an
pleads with the characters to help him bring extremely loud noise
her back, and says that the thieves left a trail
that they can follow north into the valley. If
the PCs go after the Bride’s body, he will ask THE BRIDE’S
to go with them. TELEPATHIC RELATIONSHIPS
Overu: level 4, tasks Overu is older and walks with a slight Any of the NPCs will talk about
involving the numenera limp. His dark hair has just started to grow how the Bride provided for them by
as level 5, knowledge of
in white, as has the hair in his beard. He’s interacting with people telepathically.
the numenera as level 2;
carries two daggers still in good shape, and while he’s not as She convinced them that she was their
hotheaded as Maddester, he will join in daughter, bride, best friend, and so on.
the fight if one occurs. He has a number In return for this “relationship,” those
of internal machine parts, although it is she interacted with provided her and the
impossible to tell by looking at him. city with supplies, much as Themoal has
If the characters interact with him in a been doing. The villagers are very matter
positive way, he says he was the Bride’s of fact about this, and don’t seem to
confidante, and that he has been with her consider it a moral dilemma.
since the early days, when she was just Of course, because they are still in
beginning to call people to the city. He might mourning, they haven’t thought much
say that he believes Convergence members about the fact that the Bride is no longer
took her, as they had come around a few able to provide for them.
days before the Bride’s death, and she had
ousted them from the city at the time. Overu

10
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

• Metal death: level 4; canister with hose; THE BRIDE’S HEADS

produces a stream of foam that covers an In the back of the building is a long
area about 3 feet by 3 feet (1 m by 1 m), stronglass box set up on a dais. Inside the Stronglass box: level 7;
transforming any metal that it touches box are five heads, with an obvious space has a complicated (level
8) locking mechanism on
into a substance as brittle as thin glass. from which a sixth head likely seems to be
the front
The foam affects metal to a depth of missing. Each of the heads are different, with
about 6 inches (15 cm). a very distinct look and made up of different Bride’s heads: level 6;
• Shocker: level 7 rod; delivers a powerful materials, colors, and even clothing. each of them can be
broken apart to provide
burst of electricity that shocks any If the players ask about the heads, Overu 1d6 shins and one
creature touched, inflicting 7 points of will say that the Bride was many things to random cypher
damage many people, and that she shifted between
No matter who the PCs talk to in the city, heads for different roles. There is a healer
they do not find anyone who has a single head, a leader head, a fighter head, a friend
bad thing to say about the Blackbone Bride. head, a teacher head, and one head that
In fact, many of them say similar things in she never, ever wore, at least not that Overu
similar ways: that she was worthy of being ever saw. That is the head that is currently
worshipped, that she saved their life, that missing. He says all of this very matter-of-
her loss has left them devastated, that they factly, as if it is the most normal thing and he
would do anything to have her body back. finds it odd that they’re even asking about it.
They mention that they are a wealthy GM intrusion suggestion: As one of the
city, thanks to the efforts of the Bride, and players draws close to the stronglass box of
will gladly allow the players their pick of heads, one of their cyphers begins to vibrate
the powerful objects in the Bride’s secret and release a low-pitched keen. The cypher
storehouse. It is clear from interacting with grows louder the closer it gets to the box.
the residents that the majority of them have The character must take the cypher outside
limited understanding of the numenera— the building or deactivate it somehow (a
they don’t know what the objects in the numenera task equal to the cypher level).
storehouse do or how they work. This is Otherwise the cypher will activate on its own,
because the Bride forbade them to study or doing the opposite of what it’s supposed to
learn about such devices and urged them to do. (If the character is supposed to gain 5
focus on other, simpler things in their lives. points to their Might Pool, for example, they
GM intrusion suggestion: Overu lose 5 points instead.)
accidentally lets it slip to someone during
conversation that he is part machine, and THE SECRET STOREHOUSE
asks whoever hears it to keep it a secret from Only Overu knows where the secret
the others. storehouse is, and he will not say where it is
located (even under penalty of death) until the
players bring back the body of the Bride safely.

11
 Those who successfully search the RECORDER HEADBAND
ceiling (a difficulty 8 perception task) of the Level: 5
centerpiece building, just above the Bride’s Form: A leatherlike headband with a small
heads, can uncover the storehouse on their device attached
own. There is the faint outline of an overhead Effect: This headband records everything the
door (hidden behind a ward created by wearer sees as moving images that can
the Bride) about 10 feet (3 m) above the be replayed and reviewed. It stores up to
stronglass box and approximately 4 feet one hundred hours of images.
(1 m) from the nearest wall. Once someone Depletion: 1 in 1d20
reaches the overhead door, opening it merely
requires a pull, and a ladder comes down TENDRIL GRAFT
from above. The storehouse is filled with Level: 2
devices, shins, broken bits of metal and Form: A whiplike length of organic material
machinery, and any manner of weird objects. similar to flesh
While the majority of it looks like junk to the Effect: This graft attaches to the host’s spinal
untrained eye, there are three artifacts near column so that it can be controlled like
the door, each of which is held aloft by a a limb. The host can use it like a whip
translucent synth bubble floating in the air. (a light weapon) even if their hands are
If the characters return the Bride’s body to full. They can also use it like a prehensile
the city, Overu will take them to the warehouse tail that can hold their weight (assuming
and invite them to take their pick of the objects they are roughly human-sized) or another
in the synth bubbles. (They can choose one, object.
two, or all three. Overu doesn’t understand the Depletion: —
purpose of any of them, nor does he seem to
perceive their value. He is more likely to call
them “objects” rather than artifacts.)
If the characters seek out and break into
TIME CONTROL
At this point, you should have an
the storehouse on their own, they must
hour to an hour and a half left for
pop the synth bubble and catch the artifact
tracking down the Bride. If the PCs are
inside before it falls (a level 3 Speed task). If
getting bogged down in Scosik, use
the artifact falls from the bubble, it appears
Maddester’s urgent desire to track down
a moment later, in the same place where it
the Convergence members as a way to
was, inside a new synth bubble.
get the characters moving.
The three artifacts are:

HEALING SWORD
Level: 4 TRACKING THE
Form: A typical sword with an odd-looking CONVERGENCE
Remember that if the synth hilt It’s a fairly easy task (level 2) to track the
PCs step outside the Effect: The broadsword blade is a Ninth Convergence members, as the greenery is
indentation, any of them
who fail a level 4 Intellect
World-forged addition to the numenera smashed down where they’ve traveled; it
defense roll feel dizzy hilt (which likely was not a sword hilt might be possible to surmise that they are
and light-headed for ten originally). When squeezed properly, the actually dragging the Bride’s body north
minutes. hilt injects a healing substance into the through the valley. (This thought upsets
wielder’s body, restoring 1d6 points to any Maddester, because it’s so disrespectful to
stat Pool they wish. If the wielder is using the Bride.)
the sword in battle, using the healing However, very quickly (after about ten
function does not require an action. minutes of walking), the trail just stops. It
Depletion: 1 in 1d10 (for the healing ability, goes utterly dead. At the end of the trail,
but after depletion, it still functions as a someone who is searching or listening (a
sword) level 3 Intellect task) hears the following
conversation:

12
 THE SKEIN OF THE BLACKBONE BRIDE

A fearful, whispered male voice, growing Magister Lewar: Lewar is the most Due to his past experience
more panicked as it speaks. “There are people nervous and talkative of the three, constantly in the military, Ravi
recognizes the robes
outside. They’re . . . they’re looking in. I worrying and whispering. However, when and symbols that they
thought this was supposed to hide us!” (This fighting, he is the most likely to slip into wear, and knows that
they are members of the
is the voice of Magister Lewar, see below.) shadow and strike without warning. It’s Convergence.
Followed quickly by a more gruff, “Hush hard to catch more than a glimpse of Lewar
and let me work.” (This is the voice of beneath the heavy robes and hood, but it’s Magister Noth: level 7,
knowledge of the numenera
Magister Noth, see below.) easy to see the long white sword that is as level 8; Armor 2; wears a
The conversation probably continues, with rarely sheathed. level 4 artifact called a skull
Magister Lewar continuing to report what he Bandel: Unlike the other two, Bandel blaster; carries two cyphers:
a force nodule and a speed
can see of the characters. doesn’t wear the robes of the Convergence. boost
It’s a level 5 perception task to see through She is tall—nearly as tall as the Blackbone
Skull blaster: A headband
the illusion that the Convergence members Bride would be if she were standing—and
with an attached cylinder
have set up. The force screen is about 20 feet appears to be very strong. It’s pretty clear that runs along the left side
(6 m) long; it creates an illusion and puts up that she’s been brought along to carry—or in of the wearer’s head. Emits
a brilliant beam of focused
a force ward. It’s possible for characters to this case, drag—the body of the Bride. She is light that has a range of
go through it (a level 4 Might task) or walk the quietest of the three and seems unwilling 200 feet (60 m). Targets hit
around it. to act without a direct order from one of the by the beam take 4 points
of damage. Depletion 1 in
GM intrusion suggestion: For some other two. 1d20.
reason, Ech’s beast companion refuses at If Noth realizes that the characters are
first to cross the force barrier and go near serious about taking back the body of the Force nodule: level 5
crystal nodule that affixes
the Convergence members. It also tries to Bride, he will first attempt to bribe them by to armor and creates a
keep Ech from doing so. offering them 10 shins and membership in powerful force field that
adds 2 Armor
Behind the force screen are three people the Convergence. (He’s lying on the second
and the body of the Bride. part, as he doesn’t have the power to bring Speed boost: level 4 pill
The Body of the Bride: The body of the someone into the organization.) If that that adds 1 to Speed Edge
for one hour
Blackbone Bride has a shape similar to that doesn’t work, he will command Lewar and
of a very tall human, about 7 feet (2 m) tall, Magistrar Lewar: level 6,
although it’s clear at a glance that it isn’t sneaking, knowledge of the
numenera, and initiative
human because it is built of black metal, as level 7; Armor 2; carries
synth, and a rubberlike material. The body a long curved greatsword
made of a shiny white
doesn’t give any sense of gender. In the
metal that does 6 points
center of the Bride’s chest is a yellow orb that of damage. Carries two
seems like it was once filled with something, cyphers: a fear gas bomb
and a flash detonation.
but which is now broken open and empty;
thus the Bride has “died.” Her head is on the Fear gas bomb: level 4
ground next to her. explosive cypher that can
be thrown in short range;
Magister Noth: Noth, a short and wiry bursts in an immediate
man with a long nose and pointed chin, is radius and causes living
leaning over the body, working on it with a creatures that breathe and
think to flee in random
series of tools and devices. He is clearly the directions in fear (or
leader of the three and the one in charge. become paralyzed with
fear) for 4 rounds.
He is gruff and verbally aggressive, prone
to shouting orders and making demands. Flash detonation: level 8
He wears his Convergence robes proudly wristband projector (long
range) that busts in an
and sports a large metal necklace that immediate radius, blinding
displays the Convergence symbol. Noth is all within it for one minute.
not likely to perceive the PCs as a threat; he
Bandel: level 7, carrying
is very confident in his ability to take and and hauling as level 8;
maintain control of any given situation. He health 25; Amor 4; carries
the 10 shins that Noth
will probably continue to dismantle the body
offered, as well as a maul
even after the characters appear.

13
 Attempt to pull a con job. They may
Although Noth has begun to dismantle attempt to fool one or both parties and
the Bride’s body, he has not gotten very far. receive both rewards themselves.
Repairing the body is a level 4 numenera- Dismantle the body and keep the parts
based task that takes about ten minutes. themselves. Depending on how much
Alternatively, the PCs may choose to time is left, you can speed the characters
dismantle the body, in which case it along on their journey to reach their chosen
provides 200 shins, a bunch of spare destination and experience the end result of
pieces and parts, and two cyphers—an their choice.
Artificial leech: level 5 artificial leech and a body enhancer.
handheld device; when
used at the site of an
infected or poisoned
EXPERIENCE POINTS
wound, the device draws Bandel to “take care of” the characters, while The PCs earn 2 XP each for finding and
out as much of the he continues to work on dismantling the retrieving the body unharmed. They earn
infection or poison as it Bride’s body. 2 additional XP each if they deal with the
can without injuring the
surrounding tissue. The The Convergence members will not willingly body in a conclusive, satisfying way. If they
device restores 5 points to give up the Bride’s body. They will use their care about their jobs, their reputation, and
the user’s Might Pool. cyphers, artifacts, and weapons to fiercely the money, then transporting the body back
defend what they believe to be theirs. Even Noth to Lerg is the way to go. If they care about
Body enhancer: level
3 tube of malleable will join in the fight, if it looks like the characters the Bride’s worshippers, and their desire to
material; adjusts to are giving Lewar and Bandel difficulties. have her body safely returned to them, then
match the user’s skin If a fight breaks out and it looks like the transporting her body back to Scosik is the
color and temperature,
can be shaped into any
trio is going to lose to the characters, it’s way to go. Deciding to dismantle the body
form, and affixes itself to possible that Lewar will use his fear gas and keep it for themselves is also a viable
the user’s body for up to bomb cypher so they can try to escape. They option.
two hours. Single action will leave the Bride’s body, but attempt to
to shape and affix.
take the head with them.
The tools and materials If Maddester has gone with the characters,
to bring the Bride back he will continue to express his gratitude for
to life, if that’s even
their help, and reiterate how happy all of the
possible, are not available
anywhere in this region. residents will be to have the Bride’s body
back in her rightful spot for good.
At this point, unless things have gone
drastically wrong, the characters now have
the opportunity to decide what to do with the
body of the Blackbone Bride. If Maddester is
with the characters, he will of course assume
that they are going to return the Bride to
Scosik and will perhaps even start to lift a
part of her body and ask for help from the
other characters.
They might choose to do any of the following.
Return the body to Scosik. The Bride’s
worshippers will express their immense
gratitude and even invite the characters
to stay with them in the village. Overu will
reward them with the artifacts as well.
Return the body to Stirthal. The characters
get half of the reward money (300 shins or
the equivalent amount in artifacts, cyphers,
and equipment) to split, as well as praise
from Lerg and the promise of even more
fantastic jobs in the future.

14
NUMENERA GLIMMERS
Numenera Glimmers are inexpensive PDF-only products that allow us to respond to fans’
desires for new material on the fly and let us delve deeper into the Ninth World, covering
unusual and specialized topics that might not find a home in a larger publication.

Whether you’re looking for new adventures and character options, Ninth World lore and
culture, a cache of numenera devices, or just something a little weird, the datasphere has
got you covered.

In Strange Aeons: Beyond All Worlds

Into the Violet Vale Lovecraftian Numenera Injecting
Vortex the Weird

Love and Sex in the Artifacts & Odditi

Maps of es Taking th
Ninth World
Maps of d the Ninth World 2 Collection 1
the Tail: G e Narrative by
rl M Intr
the Ninth Wo Special E usions &
ffects

Available now from the MCG web store:

www.montecookgames.com
f b.com/MonteCookGames @MonteCookGames