Overview: A priceless relic, the Orb of Light, has been stolen from the temple in the city of Windhaven. Without the orb, the temple’s protective magic is fading, leaving the city vulnerable to raiders. The party is hired by the temple’s high priest to recover the orb before it’s too late.

Plot Summary:

• The party is summoned by High Priestess Lyra of the temple of the Sun God. She explains that the Orb of Light, a powerful relic used to ward off evil, has been stolen by a notorious gang of thieves, the Night Blades.
• The players must investigate the thieves' hideout, a series of underground tunnels beneath the city, and retrieve the orb.
• Along the way, they discover that the Night Blades are not acting alone—they are working for a mysterious benefactor who wants to harness the orb’s power for dark purposes.

Key NPCs:

• High Priestess Lyra (Quest Giver): The head of the temple, she is stern but righteous. She believes deeply in the party’s ability to recover the orb but warns that time is of the essence.
• Finnan Lightfoot (Informant): A former thief who has gone straight, Finnan offers to help the party find the Night Blades’ hideout—for a price.
• Soren (Night Blades Leader): The cunning leader of the Night Blades, Soren is dangerous but has no personal interest in the orb. He will flee if cornered, leaving the players to deal with his gang.

Encounters:

1. Investigation in the City (Social, Difficulty: Easy)

   • The party must gather clues about the thieves. They can visit taverns, question locals, or persuade Finnan Lightfoot to help them find the hideout.
   • Challenge: The players can use charisma-based skills to bribe or persuade Finnan to give them directions to the Night Blades’ lair.

2. Underground Tunnel Ambush (Combat, Difficulty: Medium)

   • While navigating the underground tunnels, the party is ambushed by two Night Blade Thugs and a Trapmaster who uses traps and ranged weapons.
   • Solution: Players can disarm traps or use stealth to get the jump on the thieves.

3. The Orb Vault (Combat/Puzzle, Difficulty: Hard)

   • At the heart of the thieves’ hideout is the vault containing the Orb of Light. It is heavily guarded by Soren’s second-in-command, Kara, a skilled rogue with magic traps.
   • Abilities: Kara can cast Invisibility and use her Shadow Step ability to teleport around the room.
   • Puzzle: Players must disarm a magical trap on the orb before safely retrieving it.

Rewards:

• Orb of Light: A powerful artifact that can be used to cast Light and Turn Undead once per day.
• Thieves’ Spoils: The players also recover a small cache of gold, gemstones, and stolen goods that they can return to the city or keep for themselves.
• Honorary Members of the Temple: Upon returning the orb, the party is granted the title of Honorary Protectors of Windhaven and can call upon the temple’s services in future adventures.