Intro to D&D First Session.

[first session]
Characters may notice the following:
With a DC 15 Spot check, characters notice three
humans lingering near the table of presents, each holding
a beer but not drinking it. Each wears a pair of strong
leather gloves, despite the heat of the party.
With a detect magic spell, a character can see that three
wedding presents have magic auras, one much stronger
than the others — strong (necromancy; the others are
conjuration). One of the previously mentioned humans’
hands has a magical aura as well.
With a detect evil spell, a character detects that
one wedding present — in black wrapping paper
— has a strong aura. This is the same gift that has the
overwhelming magic aura. The gift is actually a powerful
magic statue resembling a black dragon.
Anyone using Gather Information to discover
anything about the couple simply learns that they are
respected by all Empire military, especially dwarves. In
asking about latest Gwyndaria happenings, the heroes
learn that some humans — former soldiers of Daelin
(a military deserter) — have been fomenting considerable
unrest (Gather Information DC 10). Inquiries among
the dwarves (and a DC 10 Gather Information check)
reveal that relationships between the dwarves and
Daelin’s former soldiers are tense, as apparently a dwarf,
Redsnout Grisling, is missing, and the dwarves think the
men from Daelin’s expedition are behind it. Redsnout’s
family is offering a reward for information.
The three suspicious humans near the gift table are rude
to anyone who attempts conversation. They do not fight
if provoked; they are too busy watching the table. Wendy's retainers
squash any attempt to mingle with the elite officials.
The heroes can learn that Wendy (a hero of old, and long time ally to
the empire) is worried about some unrest or threat by the
black dragon cult with a DC 20 Gather Information check.
After allowing the characters time to pick up rumors
(and enjoy the catering), continue with the following...

If the heroes acted on the information they gathered, you
may have to alter the following.

(type for players/read aloud)
"Dwarves begin clapping and stamping their feet to
call for the couple to open their presents. The gruff
dwarves guarding the table deliver the gifts one by one.
Considerable cheering rises at each gift, and you can tell
the couple is having a ball.  All focus in the room rests on
the bride and groom.  Wendy and her guards stand nearby.

Fio, the bride, hefts a large present wrapped in black paper.  "To the happy couple!" she calls, reading the card,
and people applaud again.  The moment she reaches into the box, you see what looks to be something made of
black obsidian; then a bright flash fills the room, blinding you. Shouts and screams echo. As you regain your sight,
you see that one a large human man, blade bared, leap toward Wendy. Her guards close about her, and Fio, the bride,
steps in front of him, blinking. The human cuts her down and makes for Wendy. One guard sweeps his sword from its scabbard,
and in the same motion hacks halfway into the murderer’s neck. He chokes and sinks. Pandemonium. The groom bends over his wife
and shakes her shoulders, but she slumps over the gift and doesn’t move. A human woman — one who had been standing next to the
would-be assassin earlier — darts forward and pulls the gift from the bride’s still hands, and then she is gone. Two more humans yell, “There she goes!” and dash out the exit, bumping your table along the way. The room reels with chaos.

After determining if anyone is dead (which the bride
and the failed assassin are, unless the heroes interfered),
Wendy and her advisors take charge of the situation.
They prevent anyone from leaving the room, instead questioning everyone present.
A harassed looking guard, Lieutenant Equius, interviews the
heroes, and becomes interested at the mention of the
escaping humans — whom many others didn’t notice.
After 30 minutes to an hour, The Empire’s elite confer.
Finally, Wendy addresses the crowd.

“Something terrible has happened here today. Both Gustav and the Empire suffered a loss, and I will see
that it does not go unpunished.” She turns to her guards. “Find a group to head south to black dragon cult
territory, we need someone to see what’s going on down there. The dragons are behind this, I’m sure. The people
who fled this room did not have this kind of power at their disposal.”
The guards nod and leave. The nobility falls into small groups that converse quietly. After a few minutes,
Lieutenant Equius emerges and approaches you. “Hello again. Many of our best officers are on assignment,
and, as you heard, we just sent more off to the south of Dustwallow Marsh. We can’t leave the city undefended,
so it appears we’re somewhat shorthanded. Would you care to investigate those people you saw escape? We think
they’re members of a… disenfranchised cult… group… I don’t know. Something. Anyway, we’re fairly sure
where they are hiding, we just didn’t think it was worth investigating.” He frowns. “There will be a reward if you
can bring the assassins to justice. Bring them back alive, or bring us their heads. I don’t care which.”

Once the heroes receive the rough map to the
defectors’ caves from Equius, they are free to head out...  [/first session]