Page 148 - Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

0RZHOV SYNDICATE 0RZHOV BASILICA MAP
The Orzhov basilica is a huge church with the primary
The Orzhov Syndicate is a sprawling network of orga- function of intimidating those who come to confess,
nized crime that operates behind a facade of legitimate atone, borrow, or pay. The nave features lofty archways,
banking, robed in the trappings of religion. Adventures towering statues of proud oligarchs, and a huge central
involving the Orzhov often include some combination statue that depicts the Ghost Council surrounded by
of fighting their criminal activities, interacting with supplicants. A pair of tall doors behind the statue leads
their wealth, and dealing with the haunting spirits and to an sanctuary where minor treasures- worth more
sinister monsters that make up a significant part of the than most citizens will ever see in their lives, but less
guild's leadership. than the true treasures hidden in the vaults-are put
on display to encourage devotion. Another statue of a
GRAND B ASI LICA patron oligarch (usually the basilica's founder) stands at
Combining the guild's interests in organized crime, the end of this room, flanked by spiral staircases leading
banking, and religion, Orzhov properties are ornate up into the spire and down to the crypts. The stairs are
basilicas as grand as any cathedral, though the business secured behind ornate wrought iron gates.
conducted within them is driven by greed and lust for The three levels of the spire hold luxurious apart-
power rather than altruistic motives. Each location in- ments where living oligarchs dwell. The doors can be
cludes a grand space used not for purposes of worship, locked from the outside, making them also suitable for
but to ensure that petitioners feel small and abased be- holding valuable prisoners.
fore the Orzhov oligarchs. Its lower level contains vaults The crypts and vaults below the basilica hold the
to store the ill-gotten riches of its leaders. as well as bones of ancient oligarchs and their most cherished
crypts that hold the corpses of family members whose treasures. Some crypts contain just bones, others just
spirits might still be active above. valuables, and some hold both. A security station keeps
watch on the entire level, and the guards there are typ-
GRAND BASILICA ADVENTURES ically the only ones who have keys to open the metal
An adventure in an Orzhov basilica, like the one portcullises that obstruct the hallway.
shown in map 4.7, can feel like the action in a gangster
movie. a bank heist, or the exploration of a haunted 0RZHOV V ILLAINS
house. The Grand Basilica Adventures table provides Examples of Orzhov villains appear in the Orzhov
some examples.
Villains table.
GRAND BA SILICA ADVE NTU RES
0 RZ H OV VI LLA IN S
d12 Adventure Goal
d8 Villain
Steal (or recover) a magic item from the vaults
A powerful pontiff is using the spirits of dead
below the basilica.
relatives to intimidate members of other guilds.
2 Put an end to nightly visitations by finding and
2 An angel defected from the Boros Legion, bringing
confronting the haunting spirit in the basilica.
a magic sword with her that the Boros want back.
3 Survive a night trapped inside the basilica.
3 An Orzhov knight is trying to collect an overdue
4 Deliver a warning to an Orzhov pontiff in the
debt incurred by one of the adventurers' ancestors.
basilica and get out alive.
4 A pontiff is running an extortion racket, promising
5 Rescue a prisoner being held in the basilica's spire
local businesses protection from thugs that are
or crypts.
also in the Orzhov's employ.
6 Escape from captivity in the basilica's spire or
5 A blood drinker vampire (see chapter 6 for the stat
crypts.
block) is holding prisoners as a food supply in a
7 Destroy a dangerous weapon stored in a vault bank vault.
beneath the basilica.
6 An advokist is exploiting legal loopholes to win the
8 Acquire or destroy some incriminating evidence freedom of several criminals from Azorius prisons.
held by an Orzhov blackmailer.
7 A desperate spirit tries to frighten people into
9 Retrieve a precious item held as collateral by an paying its debts so it can pass on.
Orzhov loan shark. 8 An unusually quick-witted Orzhov giant (see
10 Get information from a spirit who knew something chapter 6 for the stat block) with grand visions of
important in life. starting a criminal gang interferes with the flow of
11 Find concrete evidence of the syndicate's illegal protection money.
activities.
12 Discover the fate of someone who was last seen 0RZHOV AS CAMPAIGN VILLAINS
entering the basilica a week ago. Orzhov villains often scheme co achieve immortality (if
they are still alive and have been denied the prospect
of becoming a spirit after death), to gain influence. and

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