Miami Heat: Echoes of the Past

A Roleplaying Adventure for S6.2 Playtest

Synopsis: Deep undercover in the Miami drug scene, your characters stumble upon a connection to a long-cold case. Their investigation leads them to a former vice cop, Maverick Stone, obsessed with bringing down a powerful drug lord, “The Serpent” Salazar. As the lines between justice and vengeance blur, you must navigate a world of corruption, desperation, and buried secrets. A shocking twist throws everything into question, forcing you to re-evaluate who you can trust.

Characters:

• Players: Two undercover vice detectives (created by players)
• NPCs:
  • Maverick Stone: A former vice cop, haunted by a past case. (Unstable, Driven)
  • Rusty Mahoney: Stone’s former partner. (World-weary, Loyal)
  • Diamond Jim Dandy: Salazar’s successor in the drug trade. (Arrogant, Ruthless – deceased)
  • “The Serpent” Salazar: A powerful drug lord presumed missing. (Cunning, Ruthless – deceased)
  • Isabella Sanchez: A seductive nightclub owner with ties to both Dandy and Salazar’s organizations. (Ambitious, Enigmatic)

Adventure Hooks:

• While busting a small-time dealer, you discover a connection to a mysterious figure called “The Ghost,” a leader who took over after “The Serpent” Salazar’s disappearance.
• Maverick Stone approaches you undercover, claiming he has information about a major drug deal.

Part 1: The Ghost of The Serpent

1. The Dealer’s Connection: Investigate the arrested dealer’s connections. A dead end, or a cryptic clue pointing towards Stone?
2. Stone’s Story: Meet with Stone in a pre-arranged location. He reveals his past working vice, his obsession with bringing down Salazar, and his suspicions about Salazar’s disappearance. You can choose to believe him (leading to further investigation) or dismiss him as unstable.
3. Mahoney’s Doubts: Visit Rusty Mahoney, Stone’s former partner. Learn about Stone’s breakdown after failing to convict Salazar and his discharge from the force. Mahoney reveals Stone’s potential connection to Diamond Jim Dandy’s murder.

Part 2: Echoes of a Case Gone Cold

1. The Hit: Based on Stone’s information, you arrive at the scene of a planned assassination, only to witness Diamond Jim Dandy’s death. Stone is caught lurking nearby and arrested as a suspect.
2. Stone’s Tip: After his release, Stone contacts you with intel on a drug deal involving Salazar’s men.
3. The Bust: You interrupt the deal, but Salazar is absent. Stone, furious at the missed opportunity, storms off.

Exciting Twist: During the bust, you apprehend a high-ranking member of Salazar’s organization. This lieutenant, fearing for his life, reveals a shocking truth: Salazar was never “The Ghost.” He was eliminated years ago in an internal power struggle. The true mastermind, and the current leader, is none other than Rusty Mahoney!

Part 3: Betrayal and Revelation

1. Confronting Mahoney: With this new information, you confront Mahoney. Is he truly a hardened criminal, or is there more to the story? Perhaps he was blackmailed or threatened by Salazar’s successor, forcing him into a life of crime.
2. The Imposter’s Identity: Investigate the identity of the new leader. Is it Isabella Sanchez, or someone else entirely?
3. Stone’s Choice: Faced with the revelation about Mahoney, Stone is distraught. Will he seek vengeance on his former partner, or will he help you bring down the true mastermind?

Confrontation at the Warehouse:

• The investigation leads you to a warehouse suspected to be a front for the new drug operation.
• A tense standoff ensues, with Stone’s actions depending on the player’s choices.
• You must decide how to handle Mahoney and the new leader, depending on the information you’ve gathered.

Possible Endings:

• Taking Down the Empire: You apprehend the true mastermind, dismantling the drug operation and bringing Mahoney to justice (or offering him a chance at redemption). Stone finds a measure of closure.
• A City Divided: The corruption runs too deep. You manage to take down a portion of the operation, but the true leader escapes. Stone disappears, consumed by his obsession.
• A Line Crossed: Stone, driven mad by betrayal, takes matters into his own hands. The players must choose between stopping him or letting him enact his revenge.

S6 RPG by AJ Bollinger is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.0 International License.