Silent Gardens: A scenario premise

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February 02, 2024

 I ran a scenario in a sci-fi setting a while ago, and reminiscing about it today, I realized it would be worth sharing. I have done my best to keep it system/setting-agnostic. Enjoy!

Silent Gardens

 This scenario takes place in a secluded area with an abandoned building (e.g. an old church), with an attached open area (e.g. a garden). There is a person here trying to get into a very secure locked chest or room (magically/digitally locked). It is in the building. It is nigh impossible to open except by the key. Inside it something valuable, and the person knows it.

In the open area, there is an automaton. It has the key around its neck on a string, or somewhere else conspicuous. The automaton is does not speak nor has any intelligence. It will kill the nearest thing to it. 

The automaton is activated by sound. It can only move when there is a noise, a voice, etc. and will be completely still otherwise. Louder sounds let it move more, and quieter sounds only let it move a little. It can turn its head if someone is speaking continuously to it. The person in the building knows about the automaton, and will not speak near it out of fear.

The party stumbles upon this, or is notified of the treasure somehow. How will they recover the treasure?

Additional Notes

The automaton looks like a person. It has blades for hands, and given enough noise, it will kill. It cannot see; it tracks by sound. It is very sturdy, most missile weapons wouldn't hurt it, and if you are close enough to hit it, your breathing makes enough noise to partially absorb one blow. Then you're likely dead.

It's fun if the automaton initially has its back to the approaching party so they think it's a really still person.

Additional Questions for the GM to answer

Why does the person in the building want the treasure? How do they know about it?

What is the treasure?

What other items are in the building? What was its function?

Are there more automatons like this out there?


Easy, open-ended scenario. Have fun!

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