Artifact Search

The Plot

(This is based in a world where some great despotic Wizard-kings used to rule before the free races allied against them and collapsed their rule, some time in the distant past.)

Recently, a farmer in a rural area fell into an underground cavern while hunting. Within the cavern are remnants of a vanished culture with gleaming buildings and strange creatures moving about on unknown errands. The farmer fled the scene immediately but his stories soon spread, prompting several expeditions by locals and greedy adventurers. The only person to return from these was found dead outside a village in the area, clutching an object fashioned of a strange crystal form. The area is now treated with caution and fear.

The mage who acquired the crystal form is now hiring a capable group with the intentions of exploring further in search of greater treasures.

Options:

1. The item was actually an artifact from the Wizard Kings and where there is one there should be others (Greed inspired).
2. The item was a portion of an unknown artifact, the rest is desired (Interest and fascination inspired).
3. The item is now known to have been the key holding a major servant of the Wizard-Kings imprisoned. He/She/It is now free and the PC's are required to capture/track/kill it. (Fear and caution inspired). Maybe the servant knows where some of the Wizard-kings are still alive, hiding in suspended animation or with their souls held in a magical gem, waiting their moment of rebirth.
4. The item is actually a map to a hitherto hidden realm (in a magically shielded valley or alternate dimension) where the cavern's inhabitants have come from. They have been preparing themselves for a looting/slaving expedition into this realm and must be stopped before they have a chance to expand out of their cavern. (This sets up a possible major campaign: first clean out the cavern area, then gain access to the hidden and unknown realm and scout it, then find those who intend the raiding expeditions etc and stop them).
5. The item is the key to time-travel. The mage who has it wants to travel back to the time of the Wizard-Kings, alter history so that the Wizard-Kings win and rule with them over one of the realms. He intends to trick the PC's to act as his advance guards and protectors and take them with him to spoil the plans of the allied free people. (This would involve lots of trickery and be sneaky to manage, as the players can't find out what's going on until too late - at which point they will probably want to stop him and go home again).
6. The object has given its new master some great abilities and he now wants to use the powers of the PC's to slowly build his personal power until he is able to rule as the great Wizard-Kings ruled. (See 5).